It’s very common to fall out of a fitness routine, especially at this time of year. Everyone has their excuses: holiday schedule changes, bad winter weather, injury or illness, failed New Year’s resolution, etc.
Regardless of the reason, you need to get back in the habit. Now is a perfect time to recommit to achieving and maintaining a prime fitness level. But before you start to pick up where you left off, be mindful of the following things:
- Start slow. Do not try to make up for lost time. Depending on the length of time since your last workout and the reason for stopping, you might not want to resume working out at the same level you were at when you stopped. Rather, decrease your exertion by 20 to 30 percent and gradually build your way back up.
- Choose an activity you like. Enjoying your workouts is a must. If you find cardio preferable to weight lifting, focus on that. The goal during the first month is to get moving, whichever way you choose.
- Recruit a buddy. Grab a friend to join you. Adding a partner to your workouts can boost your commitment and give you someone to discuss fitness with, and the two of you can keep each other motivated.
- Track every workout. Charting your workouts is a great way to watch yourself steadily improve and to stay motivated. Small fitness milestones give you a series of short-term goals to reach as you work towards your overall goals.
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