10 Fitness Tips for Beginners

Getting started is always the hardest part. This lockdown may have meant you’ve been out of routine and physically inactive for a while - it’s hard to get an exercise routine started again. The gyms are still closed and you may not be a huge fan of them anyway. Where do you start if you haven’t done a crunch or walked for a while?

Get started with a new fitness routine:

1. Start slowly. Your level of fitness during your school years is probably still fresh in your mind. You could once lift those weights over your head, do the splits, run a quick mile, and still have energy left to dance the night away after a kick about of football. However, we’re not 18 anymore.

· Perform workouts that match your current physical condition. Hurting yourself is the fastest way to ensure that you never get in shape. Take mini steps to notice your success.

2. Stress yourself, but not too much. The perfect workout will stress your body enough than it must adapt, but not so much that your recovery time is lengthened or you hurt yourself.

· There’s great news: you don’t need to do much at first to see real results if you’ve been switching back and forth between sitting at a desk and sitting on the couch. A short walk will provide a lot of benefit, fresh air and some time to yourself or with a friend. If you haven’t done a press up in 20 years, doing press ups against the wall is enough to get started.

· Enjoy the advantages of being a beginner. You can get more results from 10 minutes of easy exercise than a highly fit person can get from 90 minutes of hard work.

3. It’s all about consistency. A mild, daily workout will do more for your fitness than one hard workout each week. Instead of focusing on your effort, focus on moving regularly.

4. What you eat is important. Whether you want to lose weight or feel more energised, what you eat can be far more important than the exercise you perform. It’s easy to eat more rubbish in an hour than a professional athlete can burn off in three hours! Focusing on what and how much you put on the table might be the best way to start.

5. Find a workout buddy. It’s not easy to put on your running shoes each day. Knowing that someone else is counting on you increases your chances of getting out. Online communities are growing too and knowing you’re working alongside others can be a great motivator. Take a look if any of my online sessions inspire you.

6. Get expert help. Get some professional guidance if you’ve never exercised before. Learn effective techniques and have your coach design a program for you.

7. Keep it simple. A few exercises are enough to provide all the benefits you’ll ever need. The basics never go out of style.

8. Make it fun. Used to love badminton at school? Join a badminton club. Find a form of exercise that you enjoy. The garden or allotment can be a great way to get moving naturally too – and end up with healthy home grown grub! Dancing around the house is one of my favorites!! Unless you’re training for the Olympics, there are many simple forms of exercise that can fit the bill of increasing your fitness.

9. Be well-rounded. Flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and strength are all important, especially as you age. If all you do is run, your flexibility and strength will suffer. Ensure that you’re hitting these three areas. Try out my Live BoxingYoga sessions on my Facebook Activity Page for flexibility & Strength.

10. Focus on progress. Just a little bit of progress each week can keep your motivation high. Enjoy the fact that beginners make great progress!

Get excited and start on a new exercise routine today. A pair of walking shoes or a mat are enough to get started. Get some expert advice for an effective plan. Take your time and enjoy the journey.