Starting an Exercise Regime
It can be daunting when you are thinking of starting an exercise regime. Sometimes we don’t know where or how to start. Sometimes previous experiences leaves us feeling less confident to try again.
Today, we will provide you with industry tips to starting an exercise program… and sticking to it. Believe us, we have helped plenty of people do just this.
Before starting an exercise regime, lets talk about Mindset:
It’s not an easy thing to overcome, but looking at each exercise session as a chore will make this process way harder than it needs to be.
To overcome this, choose exercises that are most appealing to you. Don’t purchase a gym membership if you have no interest in going to one. Simple options exist such as home programs, phone applications with guided programs, swimming, bike riding, just to name a few.
Secondly, choose exercises that are most convenient. If you have a busy schedule, try to pick an exercise schedule that will involve minimal travel and preparation time. This will ensure there are less barriers to participation, making the habit more likely to stick.
Small doses, high exposure for your exercise regime:
It’s easy to get excited at the beginning. You’re full of determination and grand plans. You may have even purchased some new exercise clothes and shoes. But believe us, this determination can be quickly squandered by the classic trap of ‘too much too soon’.
Starting your program with heavy or intense exercise can put you at risk of injury or burnout. To put it simply, your mind might be ready, but your body is not.
To combat this, focus your first few weeks on establishing a routine. Pick your exercising days and stick to it, no matter what. Keep your workouts light to moderate intensity. This will ensure your body can cope throughout the week. And the next. And the next.
Keep active during the day:
A common oversight that should be placed as high importance is your daily activity levels. An accumulation of activity throughout the day can be extremely effective at improving your overall health. This is because it increases your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE).
Finding opportunities to increase your daily activity can be a game changer in improving your health status.
Final Words:
We hope this post provides some insight into the common mistakes we see our clients make, as well as tips we find to be the most useful and effective.
Exercise Physiologists help to guide existing or new exercise programs to suit your goals and schedule. We also take into account any relevant health and injury history to provide a holistic and tailored approach.
If you have struggled to implement and stick to an exercise program, you may benefit from the experienced and practical guidance of an exercise physiologist. Contact us to find out how we can help you. Good luck!
