Getting Back into Fitness

If you've taken some time off from your health and fitness routine whether because of illness or injury — or if life simply got in the way over Christmas and New Year — you might feel somewhat overwhelmed about getting back into the swing of things.

It can feel frustrating to get your body and your mind used to the regular workout routine and get your eating habits back on track after a long break.

Here are some tips to get back your health and fitness back on track

Start out small but start!

Many people adopt an "all or nothing" attitude with fitness, my advice is that every little bit counts. So you'll want to start small — add just 10-15 minutes a day, or take little steps to be more active throughout the day. Easy ways to incorporate fitness into your daily routine include parking your car far away and getting in some extra steps, taking the stairs whenever possible, going for a stroll after a meal or it could also be as simple as getting up and walking to a coworker’s desk to chat instead of sending them an email, or taking a five-minute break to stretch your legs.

When getting back into a fitness routine, you may be tempted to overhaul your eating habits. Oftentimes, people tend to fixate on making too many changes at once.

Focus on one thing at a time.

Pick 1 or maybe 2 things you feel comfortable changing about your nutrition. Could you drink more water?, reduce your alcohol intake or reduce the size of your meals in the evening? Could you reduce the amount of processed food you are eating? Making a couple of simple tweaks to your nutrition can make a big difference.

Make sure you get enough sleep
Just as you should schedule rest days and listen to your body when it comes to your workouts, you'll also want to prioritize consistently getting enough sleep.

Sticking to a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals too close to bedtime, keeping your bedroom a comfortable temperature, putting your electronic devices away will help you get the restorative slumber your body needs to heal and refuel.

Do something you enjoy!

If you are exercising make sure you enjoy what you are doing. If you get some enjoyment you are more likely to stick with that activity.

There's a workout out there for everyone, whether you prefer joining a friend for a fitness class or going on a solo walk. You could also try swimming, riding your bike, jogging, yoga, and lifting weights.

An ideal workout will involve a solid balance of flexibility training, aerobic and strength training. There are many different ways to incorporate those into a routine that works for you and makes you excited to sweat.

If you have a routine that works, schedule rest days and stick to them.

Even trained athletes schedule regular rest days, Rest is very important! It might feel like you're delaying your progress or slowing down your gains, taking time to get enough rest is crucial for anyone, no matter your fitness level.
When you take a day off your body doesn't. It's actually working very hard to repair and replenish itself after all the work you put it through. You are actually getting stronger and fitter on the rest days.

Remember your "why". It is great to write down your health and fitness goals. It is even better if you write down why your health and fitness goals are important to you.

Remind yourself of your why often. It helps with maintaining motivation.

Ask, ‘why do I want to be fit and healthy?’ It really has to be focused on things that are really meaningful for you as the individual and finding your right why.” For example: "it is important to maintain a consistent exercise routine because I sleep better, have more confidence, energy and it helps me manage stress"