Beginner’s guide to exercise

First, let’s change our mindset. There is no universal body goal when it comes to exercise. There’s definitely what people expect those who exercise to ‘look’ like but we all don’t have the same goals. You don’t have to want to be rock solid, with washboard abs and buns of steel. Your goal doesn’t have to be 5 days of movement a week, it can be 3. You don’t have to want to fit in size 6 jeans, let your goals be realistic for you.

Mindset is everything when it comes to exercise and achieving your goals. The perfect body is the one you are comfortable in and love seeing in the mirror. It’s not the one you see in magazines or what society tells you we should look like. Society is shallow and a total liar. They are also constantly changing their minds, it’s hard to keep up with. Make your mind up for yourself and don’t let anyone make you doubt your decisions.

Okay! So let’s get into it!

1.       Change your mindset! Make sure it’s healthy. Don’t compare yourself in your journey to anyone but old pictures of you. The comparison game can kill your spirit and cause you to give up because ‘you knew you couldn’t do it anyway, right??’. So wrong. We all take our journeys at our pace and will be in different places. I’ve been on my health and fitness journey for almost 2 years now and my goals are probably not the same as the next person’s and THAT’S OKAY! You can do this. Change isn’t easy and that’s why we do it. Growth. Make sure you’re rooting yourself on instead of cutting yourself down. Nothing wrong with constructive criticism but when you are downright mean to yourself, that’s not healthy and helps nothing.

2.       Where will you exercise? Home? Gym? Do you even know what you’re doing or where to start? I used to go to the gym, but I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily the internet has everything! I found a program that I followed to help get over my gymtimidation (podcast on Home page). But after that was done, I was sort of lost. I had to plan what I was going to do and I’m just too lazy for that. I want to be told what I’m doing and I don’t want to have to plan or think about it, so I joined Beachbody. Again. Greatest thing because all I have to do is press play and follow along. So, will you make your own routines for the gym, find free workouts to do from the comfort of your own home or find a paid platform like Beachbody? Don’t let the at home workout run you off. They are the most convenient for my life because I can do them whenever I want. I don’t need to be at class at a certain time, I don’t have to wait for or share equipment, I don’t have to worry about my kids because they’re either sleeping or playing. I don’t have to worry about having time because it’s always on my time. There’s been days where I do my workout outside with my kids while they play. I know one of the struggles of working out at home is your mindset at home is to relax but whether or not you choose to workout at home or the gym, you have to be disciplined to actually do it, doesn’t matter where it is. And one of the best parts? I don’t have to miss an episode because I can watch TV while I workout! Total win-win.

3.       Set your workout days before you start! Don’t wing it. Especially if it’s difficult for you to find the motivation, let discipline guide you. Setting your workout days helps you not skip, keeps you on track. Stick to those days and don’t change them because you skipped one, only change if it works better for your schedule. Adding an exercise routine to your life when it was non-existent before can be difficult so don’t overwhelm yourself, ease into it. If 5 days is too much then start with 3 and build from there, if you want to. Think of it this way, how long have you gone without a consistent exercise routine? And now you expect yourself to add it in 5 days a week!?! That’s a lot to put on yourself. If that works for you then great but recognize if it doesn’t and tailor it to what will. It’s your life, your choice. Print this calendar, pick your days and cross them off after you do it. Track your progress and keep yourself accountable. Hang it where you’ll see it everyday.

4.       Food! Your daily intake 100% matters. In Beachbody, the trainers constantly talk about how you can’t just put the work in in the workouts, you have to do it in the kitchen too. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to always have the freshest of lawn clippings, it means you need to find balance. Balance is so important because it helps to keep you from binge eating. The elimination game can be detrimental to you staying on track. When we tell ourselves no, it makes us want it even more. So strategically tell yourself yes. Balance your sweets with the better for you foods or better yet, find better for you replacements of the junk food you love and eat those. I’m not a big sweets person but I do like them from time to time, my kids and I stumbled upon ‘healthy’ skittles called Giggles, they are so good and the ingredients are FAR better than what is in a skittle. There are options out there, you just need to find them. Meal and snack planning will be your friend. I need to have a written plan, if I don’t, then I tend to get a little lost and it definitely helps when grocery shopping, to make your list off of your plan. It’s also a good go-to when you are hungry and want to stay ‘on track’ and can’t think of something to eat. Make it as easy on yourself as possible. Find easy freezer meals you can prep and have handy for dinners. Make meals in bulk and separate into containers for lunches. It doesn’t have to be difficult or elaborate, it just needs to work for you. And by all means, do not be a punisher! Do not ‘punish’ yourself for eating something you feel is off of your plan by not eating at all, that’s not healthy. I think at times when we feel like we’re already digging ourselves a hole, we might as well continue with bad choices but we don’t have to. Your body needs fuel, food is our fuel. Just like cars need gas (or electricity these days). Maybe look at why you ate that donut and prepare yourself better.

Remember, this is a journey, a life-long one. Changes won’t happen overnight and it’s probably best that way. Take the time, ease yourself into changing your habits and treat yourself well when you feel like you don’t deserve it. You got this.