Where do you start if you want to work out? Take that first step. When I moved to a more rural community than an urban one in high school, I decided to go on long walks and listen to the radio on a Walkman. When a song I loved pumped me up, I would run through the duration of it. I did this with a few songs and formed a habit. By my senior year of high school, I made strides running cross country. I make sure to jog or walk daily. This is my story about how I became a runner, and it was one decision I made and formed habits over time. Here is how you can start exercising.
Set Reasonable Goals
Start gradually and accelerate slowly with all that you do. Allocate yourself an abundance of time to warm up and cool down with leisurely walking or delicate stretching. Find the best time for you; even just 30 minutes a day is fine. A sensible goal of losing weight is at a pace of one or two pounds a week. Create a habit of drinking more water because you will need it. For me, I started slowly and worked my way up.
Maintain Consistency
Persistence is key. Find an exercise routine and what works for you. Work in the busy day tips and walk with co-workers. Try a different exercise routine every few weeks. You will want to track your goals to stay motivated and think of the bigger picture. If you lose inspiration, set additional goals, or attempt a new workout. Taking a class at the gym and even going with a friend could help, too. For me, every time the song came on, I would run. I picked a few other songs.
Accept Being Uncomfortable
Forming new habits, especially healthy ones, are accessible but challenging. If you switch from taking the stairs instead of the elevator, that can be an adjustment. Walk or ride a bike rather than drive whenever you can. Sore muscles and fatigue will be common symptoms. This feeling is expected, and people will have to comply with it. Know your body. I accepted the fact that sometimes this would hurt.
But Know When to Take a Break
You will figure out how your body responds to different situations. Slow down and take a breather if you feel soreness, shorter breath, dizziness, or nausea. You may be forcing yourself too much. Overreaching can happen when your activity becomes extreme for what your body is used to, and performance drags consequently. Respond to your body's clues and know when to slow down. For me, I would slow down and walk when I got side cramps.
Have Accountability
Sharing your goals and being honest with others is the way to go. Make a friend, significant other, or co-worker your accountability companion and encourage each other by swapping healthy food tips, shipping motivational quotes, and checking in to see how each other feels or maintains their goals. Someone who can help you achieve your goals makes them easier to accomplish. For me, I told people about this habit, and they would ask me how I was holding up.
At WSi, we value working out in the morning, after work, or even a few co-workers going on a walk together during our lunch hour. (Some even answer candidate and client phone calls while taking a stroll.)