Now that winter has finally passed, I’m sure many of you are starting to think of an exercise routine to get your ‘summer body ready’. But where do you start? The Trainers have written  4 steps to kickstart your fitness routine. And yes… you can start today! A healthy lifestyle is a long-term commitment, but you can set yourself up for success by starting with small changes.

Set a realistic and specific goal

We’ve all been there! Going from 0 to 100! After not exercising for a long period and returning to exercise as you did before. You’ll then spend the rest of the week hobbling around and not being able to exercise until your sore muscles have recovered. Instead, set a reasonable goal, for example, today ‘I am going to make sure I eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg a day’. Or, ‘I am going to go for a 1k walk this evening.’ You’ll then not be setting yourself up for failure, it may seem easy, but you’ll actually end up doing something instead of nothing. These small steps will help you to your ultimate goal.

Go for a walk

Kickstarting any fitness routine depends on your level of fitness. If you are a beginner The Trainers recommends that you should start with a 30-minute walk to get the body moving. Studies have shown that even after 15 minutes of walking, endorphins are released which will remind you of how great moving your body makes you feel. If you are returning to exercise, apply the same principle with jogs/runs for a certain distance.

Do not punish yourself

So, you didn’t exercise at all whilst on holiday, or you’re recovering from a cold and have watched a whole series on Netflix. Maybe, you are struggling to find time in your busy schedule to exercise. Whatever it may be, you are not ‘bad’ because you haven’t worked out. Do not feel shame or guilt as you’ll then be procrastinating in the present. Instead, view today as a brand new opportunity to feel good and to invest in your health.

Start with short HIIT workouts

‘High-Intensity Interval Training’ workouts are great for burning a lot of calories in a short amount of time. The feeling after a HIIT workout is great due to challenging your muscles and working up a good sweat. You’ll be able to work harder due to short intense bursts of exercise. This method of training increases your heart rate so that you are burning more calories and fat during your workout which in turn will increase your metabolism.

Start eating better

Choosing nutritious food is a great way to reset/start your workout routine. It doesn’t have to be every meal, but starting to eat healthier overall, will give you a great mindset and the energy to move. We also encourage our clients to write a food diary, this is a great way of taking accountability and tracking how much you are eating and drinking. By seeing what kinds of snacks you are reaching for may help you to recognise patterns and to potentially make adjustments for better nutrition.

Still, need help? Call us today to arrange a free 1-2-1 consultation to kickstart your fitness routine with one of The Trainers PTs.