How to Start Working Out Again if You Haven’t in Months (Or Years)

how to start working out again

Did you have big plans to get in shape this summer? Maybe you wanted to hit some local hiking trails or start riding your bike to work.

But even the most well-intentioned plans can fall apart. If you ended up spending your summer binge-watching Netflix instead of hitting the gym, you may be feeling discouraged.

Learning how to start working out again after months (or years) of inactivity can be challenging. But it’s not too late! There are a few tips that can help get you exercising again.

Do you want to know what they are? Keep reading to discover how to start working out again.

Set Realistic Goals for Yourself

When you’re starting to work out again, what do you do? Do you just show up to the gym and run on the treadmill until you get tired? Or maybe you set out to drop 10 pounds in a week.

However, both methods can lead to a short-lived exercise routine. Instead, you should start by setting reasonable goals for yourself. If you set the bar too high, you’ll only get unmotivated when you were unable to reach your goal.

Setting SMART goals is the best way to stay on track. It’ll help you achieve your goals and see just how far you’ve come.

Make a Plan to Reach Your Goals

Alright, so you’ve decided on a couple short term goals you want to accomplish. Now it’s time to decide how you’ll reach those goals.

When learning how to start exercising again, you’ll want to give yourself some structure. Decide what days and time you’ll exercise and how long you’ll exercise for.

If you just say you want to work out 3 days a week, you’ll find yourself procrastinating until the last minute, and you’ll be more likely to slack off. Instead, decide to exercise every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening from 6:00-7:00. You’ll hold yourself more accountable and find it easier to stick to your plan.

Pace Yourself

Does your workout plan include daily 3-hour exercise sessions? You might be being a little overzealous. Remember when we said you should set realistic goals? Well, the same goes for your workout plan.

You likely won’t be able to handle an intense 3-hour exercise session on your first time working out. And that’s okay!

While you should push yourself, you should also be sure not to take it too far. The last thing you’ll want is to run out of steam after a week or hurt yourself. Instead, start off slow and try exercising for half an hour. Then, you can slowly increase your sessions once you get into your routine.

Set Alarms in Your Phone

Alright, so you made a plan to exercise Mondays at 7:00 p.m. You look over at the clock and it’s already 7:45! Where did the time go?!

Don’t let these little slip-ups ruin your workout routine. When you’re starting to work out again it’s important to stick with your schedule.

The easiest way to ensure you never forget your workout is by setting an alarm on your phone. If you go to the gym, be sure you leave yourself time to get changed and drive there. Setting a reoccurring alarm is one simple step you can take to live a healthier life.

Find Motivation

Have you tried to maintain exercise routines in the past? You may have stuck with them for two or three weeks then suddenly decided to stop. Once you’ve skipped a few days in your plan, it becomes hard to get back on track.

The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by staying motivated. Part of this is by setting those realistic goals. But that’s not the only way.

You could also document your progress. Some people like to keep hand-written journals, while others find success in taking before and after pictures. Both methods work by allowing you to see how much weight you’ve lost.

Think About All the Benefits

Why are you learning how to start working out again? Most people would say it’s to lose weight. While this is a great goal and motivator, consider thinking about the other benefits of exercising as well.

Instead of thinking of exercise as a means to an end, think of it as a lifestyle change. You’ll start feeling happier and sleeping better. Plus, you’ll be reducing your risk of diseases and you’ll be able to maintain a healthy weight.

All of these factors work together to give you a better quality of life. Once you get used to how you feel, you won’t want to go back to your sedentary lifestyle.

Make it Enjoyable

How do you feel while you’re exercising? Do you constantly find yourself counting down the minutes until you can stop? You may think that’s just how it’s going to be.

But there are so many exercise options to choose from! If you don’t like running on the treadmill or lifting weights at the gym, you can try something different. Learning yoga, Zumba, and kickboxing are all fun, yet effective workouts.

Don’t be afraid to change your original plan if you’re having trouble sticking with it. See what classes your local gym has to offer and try out as many as it takes. Once you find a workout plan that you enjoy, it’ll be easier to stick with it.

How to Start Working Out Again

If it’s been a few months (or years) since you’ve exercised, you may not know how to start working out again. It can be hard to adjust to an active lifestyle, and many people end up quitting their exercise routine after a few weeks. But, just follow our steps when starting to work out again to ensure you stick with your new healthy lifestyle.

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