If you’re thinking of going to the gym, but you’re not really sure how to start and reach your goals, these 9 tips given by many fitness professionals will help guide you on your journey.
1. Quick fixes don’t yield long-term results
There’s an old Chinese proverb that says “You give a poor man a fish and you feed him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime.” What this is supposed to teach you is that as long as you use temporary and quick fixes you are not going to see long-term results. That can be applied to many things in life, especially to the fitness journey you are about to embark on.
It definitely is possible for you to lose weight fast, but you will most likely gain that weight back faster than you lost it. However, if you make sure to create a balance between slow and steady improvement in the gym and a healthy diet filled with nutritious foods, you’re aiming for longer results. Slow and steady steps will get you the results you want that will stick for a longer time.
2. Your ‘why’ should be your driving force
Once you start going to the gym, you need to know why you are doing it and what you’re doing it for. Don’t go to the gym if you’re doing it for others or if you feel pressured to do so. Having healthy reasons and a healthy mind set about working out is the first efficient step towards starting a healthy and successful fitness journey.
No matter what the reason is, it needs to come from within. For instance, if you are training to get in shape, do it because you want to feel good in your own skin. Don’t do it solely for others or social media.
Make sure to keep your eyes on your reasons behind why you are doing it. Use that as your motivation. Just keep in mind that just getting out of a bed and going to the gym is a big enough accomplishment already. You’re doing something not a lot of people do. Let that motivate you and keep you going.
3. You’re responsible for your own progress
A trainer will always be there to motivate you in the gym, but you are essentially on your own when it comes to tracking your own progress. Only you know exactly what you want to achieve by working out. Keep your eyes on that goal and make sure you are on track. You can read up on how to motivate yourself to lose weight.
4. Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s path
Your fitness journey is your personal journey. You can always go to the gym with a friend, but keep in mind that you both are on your own separate journeys and you’re both striving to achieve different things. That’s why you should never let yourself compare your progress with someone else’s. Maybe your friend is working out to achieve a different goal.
Also, even if you were both on the same path for the same goal, don’t forget that people’s bodies are simply built different. What might work for them may not work for you and vice versa. That’s why you need to trust your body and listen to your body. Don’t try to copy the other person just because what they’re doing seems to work for them. Focus on yourself.
5. Fear is normal
It’s completely normal to feel scared in the beginning. Feeling nervous when you’re starting out is entirely understandable. That is why starting out with a personal trainer is a good choice if you feel like you don’t know what you’re supposed to do and if you feel scared. Getting a personal trainer has become very common amongst Australians who go to the gym regularly. These people are here to help you and put you back on the track when you feel like giving up.
6. Don’t be ashamed to modify a movement
Most people shy away from modifying movements when they’re working out. They’re afraid to do something wrong most of the time. However, if you talk to any of the personal trainers around you they will all tell you that it’s actually highly encouraged to do so. You can always start by doing the movements exactly the way they are supposed to be done, but over time you can start modifying them to match your progress. These modifications actually show you how much you’ve progressed over time.
7. Numbers on a scale don’t always represent your progress
Remember that weight is just a number and it doesn’t represent your progress in any shape of form. Your weight can fluctuate for about 8 pounds throughout the day simply by eating, and that’s completely normal. That’s how bodies are supposed to work. So, instead of focusing on the numbers on the scale, focus on how working out makes you feel and the progress you see in your strength.
8. Exercise should be enjoyable, so find a routine you can have fun with
When you’re exercising you shouldn’t feel like you’re forced to be there, or like you’re just getting rid of one of the responsibilities in your day. You should exercise to feel good. Working out should help you release tension built up throughout the day. It should help you set your body and mind free. So, make sure you are fully present while working out and enjoy every step of the way.
9. Celebrate every victory, no matter how small
Lastly, no matter how big or small a progress is, you need to learn how to celebrate every victory and every improvement you make. Find something that will motivate you to keep pushing and once you reach that fitness goal, pamper yourself. Let yourself rest and enjoy the milestone you just reached.
Conclusion
All things considered, if you work out for yourself, learn how to love your body, and focus on your own personal journey, you will develop a healthy relationship with the fitness journey you’re on and you’ll learn to appreciate going to the gym.
