So, this is the year you’ll finally commit to your health and fitness. Congratulations! Your body will thank you for it for the rest of your life.
This is a wonderful decision to make and a fun journey to begin; we’re sure you won’t regret it for a moment. Prioritizing health and fitness can look different for everyone, but a few snippets of advice apply to almost anyone just starting out on their journey. Before you jump in headfirst, here’s what you need to know. Longevity Live Paid Content.
1. Don’t Skip Your Warm-up
First, don’t make the mistake of walking into the gym, smashing an intense workout, and walking straight back out. A thorough warm-up is crucial to get your body ready for the exercise.
Warming up helps your muscles take on the strain you’re about to put on them. If you don’t warm up properly, you’ll be far more likely to injure yourself. If you’re in the area, Broadmead Physiotherapy will be your go-to stop for any pain or discomfort, but you’ll want to avoid injuries that will harm your progress. Always warm up by doing 5–10 minutes of light cardio, followed by dynamic stretching.
2. Prioritize Protein
By now, we’ve all heard the advice to eat a high-protein diet. Protein helps keep us fuller for longer and fuels our bodies to build and maintain muscle, which plays a huge role in looking our best. Protein is also healthy and beneficial for many other reasons and will aid in both weight loss and muscle growth.
However, for many people, increasing protein intake feels like a challenging task. The simple mindset of prioritizing protein at each meal will help you to make a change. Build your plate around a protein source and try to include protein in your snacks.
Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash
3. Nobody is Looking at You
We get it, gym anxiety is real, and it might be the one thing preventing you from truly committing to yourself and your goals. However, overcoming this fear will benefit you and allow you to finally step into the life you want.
The reality is that when you walk into a gym, a workout class, or wherever you might be, nobody is focusing on you. Everyone in the room is there to better themselves, and they probably don’t care what you look like, how much you’re lifting, or what exercises you’re doing. Go in with the same attitude and focus on yourself!
4. Consistency is Worth More than Perfection
Finally, remember that no journey is perfect, and achieving perfection in your health and fitness is unrealistic. Everyone skips workouts and eats too much cake sometimes – this is entirely normal and part of a balanced lifestyle!
All that matters is that afterward, you get right back into your healthy routine instead of allowing it to derail you. If you need some accountability or external motivation, a good option might be to join an online fitness community or find a friend who wants to join you on your journey.
