Starting a fitness journey or a new sport can be thrilling, especially after watching videos on YouTube, following fitness influencers, joining a gym, or purchasing a program.
However, diving straight into it without proper preparation can lead to injury or discouragement, especially if you haven’t been active in a while.
While seeing professional athletes’ or other fitness enthusiasts’ before-and-after pictures may motivate you, it’s essential to take your time and progress step by step.
Even though being ambitious is fantastic, it’s crucial to be adequately prepared and motivated for your fitness journey to achieve long-term progress.
Here are some of my tips to help you plan your fitness journey to get the most out of your training without placing undue stress on your body.
1. Be careful of advice overload
From friends and family to fitness influencers, everyone seems to have their own opinion on how you should train. However, what works for someone else may not work for you.
Therefore, it’s important to listen to your body and seek advice from a qualified professional, such as a personal trainer, who can tailor a program to your specific needs.
2. Start at the right level
Starting at the appropriate level is critical to your success. Begin with a beginner level and gradually progress to more challenging levels. Avoid starting at a level that’s too challenging or complicated, as it can lead to discouragement or injury.
If you’re worried about preparation, focus on low-intensity exercises for a few weeks, building up to more intense workouts. If you’re starting a new sport, focus on mastering the basics before trying anything too complex.
3. Rest is just as important as training
Rest days are just as important as training days, as your body requires time to recover and perform at its best. Rest days are also crucial in reducing the risk of injury.
If you’re starting out, aim for at least two rest days a week and don’t worry about being active. Eat as you would on a training day, but take the time to rest.
4. Enjoy yourself
Fitness should be fun! If you’re not enjoying your training, it’s easy to lose motivation. Finding an activity that you love is essential to maintaining your motivation and feeling great.
If you’ve tried one activity and didn’t like it, try something else. There are so many different physical activities to explore, so keep trying until you find something that makes you feel amazing!