Workout Basics

It's getting to be holiday season and this time can be a huge test for your healthy life style. Maybe you are thinking "Well, I can just wait til the new year and then I can get back into a routine." But the best thing to do is to start as soon as possible! I have some tips to get you started and keep you motivated during this time of year.

-Start your routine as soon as possible. Don't keep telling yourself "I'll start tomorrow" and don't make excuses. Find a period of time, approximately 45 minutes per day, and start your routine. If you can't do your routine every day, try to do it at least 3 to 4 times per week.

-Another thing that people can be guilty of (including me), is trying to do way too much at first. Realize that you will not be able to all of a sudden do 90 minutes of exercise or too much of one exercise when you first start. You must pace yourself! For example, do you want to do some light lifting? Start off with a low amount of weight (like 5 pounds), maybe by doing 8 bicep curls 2 times. Do not think you can do 100 of these at the start! The only thing you will be doing is making your routine more difficult and you can possibly hurt yourself. Once you get used to this routine, after a week raise it up gradually. Like, instead of 8 reps 2 times, do 12. Keep increasing the amount of reps, times, and weight, as you get more comfortable with the work out.

-Do you have a part of your body that you would like to see more toned? Identify these parts and look up workouts that will target that part of the body.

-This is really important: find things that you find fun to do as a workout! I think this is the most important part, because if it's fun to do, you will keep going back to it! 

-Also very important, you must stretch BEFORE and AFTER your workout! This simply takes 5 minutes to do and it helps to prevent injury.

-Lastly, do not think that you will see instantaneous results. I feel like people have the expectation that things will happen quickly, and when they don't, they quit. The rule of thumb for an exercise routine is that it takes approximately one month for it to be a routine and you will start to see results in 3 months. Do not let this long period of time discourage you! You can do it! Just keep making small goals and you will work your way into having a toned, healthy body!

~Katrina