Written by Kevin Trout for 365Jedi.
As the year winds down and the new year approaches many start turning their eye to the popular resolution of being in better shape. One of the big hurdles people face when it comes to physical fitness is approaching it with the right mindset. There are two core things to remember any start is a good start as long as you keep it up. And it is important to pace yourself.
Start slow, easy. This is core. It is about having fun. Not making it a chore to be dreaded. You shouldn’t be unable to move the next couple of days. That is not the way you want to go about it. The whole pain is gain mentality is for those that enjoy the gym and really enjoy intense work-outs. For the average person, you want to avoid the punishment of working out.
So pick something light. Listen to your body. You want to push yourself a little – it is a work-out after all, not a walk to the refrigerator. But be mindful. Stretch, stay hydrated, and be active for your set time. If you can handle a 30 minute jog, handle it. If 15 minutes in you find yourself done, then be done.
The mistake is making this First Work-out your One Work-out. It is a process. The first time out is just warming up. Getting back into doing something active and fun once a day. Don’t dust off the old work-out routine you did twenty years ago. Don’t push yourself to the point of injury.
Working out is not a punishment. Make it a reward. Make it your time. A time when you get to lose yourself to music and scenery. A time just for you to test and compete with yourself. And when you hit your limit, call it a day and look forward to picking back up tomorrow.
Slow and steady wins the race. It is about building a solid foundation that you can grow upon. So don’t try to dead lift 200 pounds your first time working out. Don’t look to run for 10 miles. Don’t try to do 100 burpees in one go. Build up to your goals – don’t try to accomplish them on day one.