Here are some useful tips from someone who didn't like working out to someone who now does it as part of my routine:
While you are getting started, don't worry about results, just commit to taking ACTION. that's all you need to do, commit to action. 3 x a week 45 min workouts. Build consistency and the results will come eventually.
Getting from unfit to fit will be uncomfortable, cos your body will be protesting this new discomfort. once you push past the initial discomfort which lasts a few months, workouts will be more fun.
Most people decide to get fit on jan 1, then do some workouts, find that their unfit body doesn't enjoy fitness, and then give up, and do it all over again next jan, never achieving what they want.
It might be rough, but you need to push through the initial months of discomfort to get to a point where you actually enjoys workouts. it will take time, but your body and mind will adapt to a new normal, and will eventually grow to like the workouts. Most people give up in the early stages of getting fit because they think that every workout will be painful and uncomfortable, that's not quite how it is, you just need to train your body to adapt to a new fitness lifestyle. commit to action rather than results and you will get to the place you want to be sooner or later. These things can take time.
Slow change is probably best, because that way you are building a new habit getting accustomed to a healthy lifestyle. If you try and lose a lot of weight quickly or make a huge sudden change, things tend to go wrong, and you will fall back to where you started because you have not built a new habit.
To break the initial fitness stress wall, commit for 4 months. Be regular. dont worry about sets and reps or weight,
just commit to working out for a certain number of hours a week. gym classes will help you do this. HIIT training works best for me. If you are new to fitness its probably best to go to a class, many places have a free or very cheap trial for week or 2, this way you can get fitness professionals to show you the ropes so you are not overwhelmed by the novelty of it all and lack of knowledge. They will make you feel welcome in the gym which is also very important for some people.
Take rests but time the rests and workout to a plan. The whole 45 min workout should have a plan for every second of the workout. the class instructors will help you do this.
Always keep a water bottle next to you and drink lots of water. Limiting water intake to occasional water breaks just adds more stress that doesn't help anything. Just drink often, however much you need to stay hydrated.
Its best to engage with the social aspect of workouts. The proverb is
“a road walked alone is twice as long”,
with fitness its 10x as long, and you may never reach anywhere alone.
This is something to do with friends, to motivate each other and encourage each other, enjoy the social aspect of working out. You can make new workout buddies at the gym classes if you don't know anyone who will go with you.
Avoid things that can get you injured. Injury will set you back, perhaps to the beginning. There's no need to lift giant weights or do 1 rep sets.
Occasionally you might see a bunch of dudes doing 1 rep max around a bench, increasing the weight until someone gets injured. This wont help you and will just ruin your body.
*Be mindful of how you feel the first 3 or so hours after a good workout. Think about how your body feels, feels relaxing, feels accomplished in a way.
learn to crave and need that feeling. That feeling is its own reward. The addiction to that post workout feeling will be what draws you back in the gym.*
There might be certain exercises you really hate. If that's whats stopping you going to the gym avoid them. There's no reason to let a few exercises ruin the whole fun of it. Maybe squats make you feel very dizzy and sick, that could be dangerous, if you really hate them, do something else instead.
Being fit and doing a workout every morning, even if only briefly, life feels different than being unfit, life is more relaxing and positive, its an incredible mood booster, always riding on the wave of continuing doses of activity and mini accomplishments, knowing you're doing something that's good for you, and maintaining your youth and energy levels the best you can.
let me know your thoughts, and Have fun! <3
Hugh Mungus
While you are getting started, don't worry about results, just commit to taking ACTION. that's all you need to do, commit to action. 3 x a week 45 min workouts. Build consistency and the results will come eventually.
Getting from unfit to fit will be uncomfortable, cos your body will be protesting this new discomfort. once you push past the initial discomfort which lasts a few months, workouts will be more fun.
Most people decide to get fit on jan 1, then do some workouts, find that their unfit body doesn't enjoy fitness, and then give up, and do it all over again next jan, never achieving what they want.
It might be rough, but you need to push through the initial months of discomfort to get to a point where you actually enjoys workouts. it will take time, but your body and mind will adapt to a new normal, and will eventually grow to like the workouts. Most people give up in the early stages of getting fit because they think that every workout will be painful and uncomfortable, that's not quite how it is, you just need to train your body to adapt to a new fitness lifestyle. commit to action rather than results and you will get to the place you want to be sooner or later. These things can take time.
Slow change is probably best, because that way you are building a new habit getting accustomed to a healthy lifestyle. If you try and lose a lot of weight quickly or make a huge sudden change, things tend to go wrong, and you will fall back to where you started because you have not built a new habit.
To break the initial fitness stress wall, commit for 4 months. Be regular. dont worry about sets and reps or weight,
just commit to working out for a certain number of hours a week. gym classes will help you do this. HIIT training works best for me. If you are new to fitness its probably best to go to a class, many places have a free or very cheap trial for week or 2, this way you can get fitness professionals to show you the ropes so you are not overwhelmed by the novelty of it all and lack of knowledge. They will make you feel welcome in the gym which is also very important for some people.
Take rests but time the rests and workout to a plan. The whole 45 min workout should have a plan for every second of the workout. the class instructors will help you do this.
Always keep a water bottle next to you and drink lots of water. Limiting water intake to occasional water breaks just adds more stress that doesn't help anything. Just drink often, however much you need to stay hydrated.
Its best to engage with the social aspect of workouts. The proverb is
“a road walked alone is twice as long”,
with fitness its 10x as long, and you may never reach anywhere alone.
This is something to do with friends, to motivate each other and encourage each other, enjoy the social aspect of working out. You can make new workout buddies at the gym classes if you don't know anyone who will go with you.
Avoid things that can get you injured. Injury will set you back, perhaps to the beginning. There's no need to lift giant weights or do 1 rep sets.
Occasionally you might see a bunch of dudes doing 1 rep max around a bench, increasing the weight until someone gets injured. This wont help you and will just ruin your body.
*Be mindful of how you feel the first 3 or so hours after a good workout. Think about how your body feels, feels relaxing, feels accomplished in a way.
learn to crave and need that feeling. That feeling is its own reward. The addiction to that post workout feeling will be what draws you back in the gym.*
There might be certain exercises you really hate. If that's whats stopping you going to the gym avoid them. There's no reason to let a few exercises ruin the whole fun of it. Maybe squats make you feel very dizzy and sick, that could be dangerous, if you really hate them, do something else instead.
Being fit and doing a workout every morning, even if only briefly, life feels different than being unfit, life is more relaxing and positive, its an incredible mood booster, always riding on the wave of continuing doses of activity and mini accomplishments, knowing you're doing something that's good for you, and maintaining your youth and energy levels the best you can.
let me know your thoughts, and Have fun! <3
Hugh Mungus