Like most people, you probably ate a lot during the holiday season. Celebrations make it easy to forget about our fitness routines and goals. With the new year upon us, and bikini season fast approaching, it’s important to get back in the gym.
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A spokesperson for Fitness Vault comments, “Fortunately, there are simple steps that can boost your ambition again as well as make working out more fun to ensure you stick to your fitness routine this year.”
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Here are some tips to ease yourself into your workout routine.
Set specific times
A set schedule for exercise times is a simple yet effective way to reset your mindset after the chaos of Christmas.
Without a gym schedule, you can make a lot of excuses for not participating in any exercise. The best time to choose is the time of day when you have free time. By thinking about your daily schedule, you can take your time and not make excuses for being too busy.
A set exercise schedule will ensure that your workload will not interfere with your return to a busy work routine either. Everyone is busy, but making time to exercise shows to yourself and others that you are committed to achieving your goal.
do not make it too much
While pushing your limits is something encouraged in fitness, it’s important not to push yourself to the limits, especially after you’ve stopped working out. After indulging in holiday sweets and booze, you’ll want to ease into your workout routine. No matter the exercise, doing too much can lead to muscle strain and tendon injuries, leaving you less able to achieve your fitness goals.
Regardless of your previous workout intensity, your body needs time to get back into your previous routine. At first, you may not be able to run very far or lift heavy weights, but it is essential that you refrain from overexerting yourself. Start with shorter, lighter exercises and increase slowly.
Doing too much can lead to fatigue in the early stages and make you dread exercise instead of enjoying it.
Personalize your workout
Not all fitness enthusiasts are all gym goers. The key is to find activities you enjoy while incorporating them into your workout.
For example, if you are a nature lover, you can go jogging or walking on a nature trail, at the beach, or even around the block. If the gym is intimidating, invest in exercise equipment and work out from the comfort of your own home. Busy moms with kids can exercise while kids play in the garden.
Lots of exercises don’t involve the gym, and personalizing your fitness routine will ensure you enjoy it.
Involved
Having a workout partner with similar fitness goals is good for your routine for many reasons, one of which is that it acts as a motivator after your break. A partner can motivate you to move on when you don’t feel like exercising.
During routine sessions, your partner can push you to take it to the next level. Having a workout buddy can spark some friendly competition. It can inspire you to do one more rep or try a heavier set of dumbbells. This brings you closer to your goals.
Partnership is also excellent for holding you accountable. It’s hard to give up on a fitness session when you know you’re going to leave a friend hanging. Having a partner makes exercise a social activity that you can look forward to every week. In addition, you can limit each other to make your workouts safer.
Set short term goals
It’s important to keep your end goal and long-term results in mind when planning your workout and deciding which exercises will work best for you. However, having only a long term goal can be frustrating when you don’t see progress right away and can lead to you giving up completely.
It is essential to set short-term, manageable goals, as well as not to focus solely on your appearance or weight loss. For example, if you want to get stronger, a reasonable short-term goal for the month might be to increase your bench press load by 15 pounds.
Implementing short-term goals makes it easier to measure your progress when it’s not physically visible. When you achieve these goals, you are progressing closer to your long-term goals.
The key to consistency
When it comes to the holidays, the last thing on our minds is the gym and playing sports. After vacation fitness is off, it’s important to set a fitness schedule, start with light exercises, and set short-term goals. If you struggle with motivation and accountability, consider asking a friend to be your workout partner.
No matter how big or small your fitness goals are, consistency is key.