In the time that I spent with my friends a week ago, we had a couple conversations regarding working out and getting back into a routine. The conversation I had with them has actually been coming up A LOT in the past month for me with various potential clients. So, I want to address this issue because I feel that people have the complete wrong idea about when to get started in a fitness program…
If you are someone who is waiting for the perfect time to start a fitness plan, I have news for you..
Here is the honest truth:
There will Never be a perfect time for you to start your workout routine. Full stop.
I don’t mean this to sound de-motivating, so let me explain.
Even when you think you are starting your exercise routine at the most perfect time and Nothing can get in your way, something always happens.
It is inevitable.
Here is a common scenario:
You signed up for a 3 month fitness program thinking that this time you will have no scheduling conflicts. You have bought new workout clothes, marked the classes you will attend 5 days a week on your calendar and even have your meals planned out through the next month. You are ready to lose the 20 lbs you put on this past year and know that because you have no trips planned, etc for the next 3 months, nothing can get in your way.
So you start your plan on a Monday and for the first 2 weeks, everything is going perfectly, just as planned. You are attending all of the classes you said you would, are starting to have more energy, are getting over the muscle soreness, you even dropped a couple lbs and are starting to feel like yourself again.
And then it happens: Your boss makes you stay late at work because a project does not get completed so you have to miss your Monday Workout. You are bummed because you don’t want to lose momentum but the work has to get done so you cut your losses.
Tuesday rolls around and you are not feeling so hot (probably because you stayed late at work the night before). You are now feeling sick and low on energy so you decide that maybe you should come home early and sleep which means you are missing 2 workouts this week.
Now it is Wednesday and you are feeling better but your boss throws an unexpected business trip on your calendar for the the following week and you have to be there. You are disappointed in yourself for missing Monday and Tuesday, especially now that you know you will be gone the next week. So now you are thinking “well, I already missed Monday and Tuesday and will have to miss next week. So this week and next week are shot. I guess I will get back into it the week after my work trip.” … And on and on..
I’m going to stop this story here so I can ask you a question:
Don’t you think it is better to work out once a week than no times at all?
Of course it is! Any of you would tell your friends and family the same. So why don’t we say this to ourselves?
In a perfect world, life would not get in the way of our plans to better ourselves but since it does the best thing you can do is mentally prepare for the situations and weeks where you can’t get to the gym 4 to 5 days a week by letting yourself know that it is okay. If 1 time is better than nothing, then be okay with working out 1 time!
Here are a few tips on how to give yourself a Break when starting a fitness program:
1 – Plan on being okay with getting to the gym at least 1 time a week. This way if something does come up you will not feel that all your efforts are lost. If you know you are doing everything in your power to get your workout in but you cannot make it, don’t stress yourself out about it. This will further inhibit your weight loss efforts
2 – Pre-Cook healthy food items so you can keep your diet on track if you get busy. This is a huge part of the weight loss battle.
3 – Have a short at home workout prepared ready to do in case you have to miss your class. Body weight exercises like squats, push ups, back extensions, planks can all be designed into a 10 minute circuit to help you get some type of workout in.
4 - Sleep. You will never have energy to get through your workouts safely if you are overtired, let alone get to the gym in the first place.
If you are someone who wants to get started on your 1 Time this Week, We will be having a Free Turkey Busting Workout behind AT&T park this Thursday (Thanksgiving) at 9am. All you have to do is bring a $1 minimum donation!! We hope to see you there and have a very happy Thanksgiving!
