I see people come into Revolution Training in Stamford, CT, all pumped up and ready to start their new fitness lifestyle. I know that I have to help them stay motivated as a beginner. It’s one of the toughest times during anyone’s fitness renewal and the reason many people quit within weeks of their first workout. What makes it so hard? There are several reasons. If you’re just starting a workout program, let’s address each and ways to handle each.
When you first workout, it hurts.
You’re going to feel a few sore muscles when you first start a workout program. You haven’t used these muscles as often or in the ways you do when you’re exercising. You can help lessen the pain by ensuring you warm up properly and do cool down exercises at the end of each workout. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, either. Your workout program should be tough, but still safely within your abilities. That’s where a trainer helps. If you’re working out on your own, take it slow and focus on form. Improper form can cause painful injury. Finally, get rest between workouts, especially if you’re doing strength training. Your body needs time to mend.
It takes a while to see results.
I’ve seen people workout once and then run to the scales to see if they lost weight or take a tape measure to their waist. Working out won’t get results on the first session that you’ll be able to see. You probably will feel the difference in a few weeks. Your workout will feel like it’s going faster, since your muscles have adapted and it became easier for you to do. Don’t expect to see physical changes for two to four weeks. The only exception to that is weight loss. If you’re following a healthy diet and working out, you could potentially see a difference on the scales within a week.
People put fitness to the side when their life gets busy.
Some people start a workout program because they had time, but life has a way of changing quickly and the time they had previously no longer exists. You’ll be surprised to find that it doesn’t have to work that way. In most cases, if you schedule your workout and make it an important appointment on your calendar, you’ll find a way to fit it and everything else into your schedule. It might involve working out in the morning, before your work day starts or doing your workout over the lunch hour.
- Set goals. This is one of the most important ways to stay on track. If you’re working with a trainer, it’s automatic, but for those working on their own, it’s also imperative. Once you set a goal, break it down to smaller ones you can achieve in a week or two.
- Always schedule your workout for the same time. It follows the same advice as putting it on your schedule. When you get into the habit of working out in the morning, you’ll actually miss it if you don’t do it that day.
- Don’t over train. One of the biggest mistakes I see new people make is working out for hours initially. You won’t do yourself any favors if you don’t give your body time to rest. You need a recovery phase to get results.
- Never compare your progress to another person’s progress. Each person is different and starts at a different place. Men build muscle faster than women, but women have more endurance.
For more information, contact us today at Revolution Training