To say that COVID and lockdowns have taken their toll on our physical and mental health would be an understatement. People often talk about wanting to get a “fresh start” with their fitness, and why wouldn’t you want to get back into a healthy routine. We all know how fabulous we feel after exercising, that’s because exercise has such a positive effect on our physical and mental well-being.
If you’ve fallen out of your routine, here are some ideas to get started and move forward.
Don’t Dwell On The Past
Firstly don’t beat yourself up and dwell on the past. Instead, ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do today to get back on track?” Then, do that thing. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you think that activity may be. It certainly doesn’t have to be a 3-hour workout …. In fact, if you’ve been inactive for a bit, it probably shouldn’t be.
More Water
When getting back into a fitness routine, start simple. For example, fill your water bottle in the morning, and make sure you drink it before lunch. Then, refill it after lunch and finish it before dinner. You’ll be surprised by how much water you can consume if you make it a habit and keep it simple.
Start Simple
Sometimes, even the thought of a 10-minute workout can be daunting if you’ve gotten out of your routine. But, could you do ten push-ups today? Could you do five before breakfast and five before lunch? Or, choose a couple of simple exercises and do them for 5 minutes twice a day. That’s a start, and you can build up from there.
Get Some Sun
Taking your exercise outside can be beneficial due to the healthy exposure to vitamin D from the sun. Some of the health benefits of Vitamin D include strengthening your bones and muscles, building immunity and supporting the immune system, along with increasing your mood and reducing depression.
More Protein
Another area where you can make some simple change are your meals. Protein is the building block of lean mass, and you need a steady supply of it throughout the day. The more lean mass you have, the more fat you’ll burn. So identify the meal that most often lacks protein and add protein to that meal. Once you’ve done that, perhaps you could substitute your morning or afternoon snack for a protein shake. Now you’re getting two meals a day with protein. Then, use that confidence and sense of accomplishment to increase from there.
You see, it doesn’t have to involve a crazy level of commitment or activity to get a fresh start with your fitness routine. Start small, keep it simple, and celebrate your victories. Before you know it, you’ll be back on track.
