10 Top Tips on Getting Started and Staying in a Workout Program

By Andrea Warshaw Wernick −

Getting and staying fit can be a challenge. For many of us, it’s hard to begin a program let alone get off the couch. Here are 10 tips that will help you start your physical wellness plan. Of course, you have to have the WANT to begin!

Here are 10 tips to help you get started – and stay in – a workout program, which will be particularly important as we head into the holiday season!

1) Be consistent:
It’s important if you’re consistent in anything you do in life When working out you must be committed to at least three days a week. No exercise out there will work if you’re not consistent.

2) Get and stay motivated:
Try reading and watching videos about other people success in their workouts. It’s a great way to motivate yourself and keep you on the right track of your own success. Treat working out like an important meeting. Add your workout time to your calendar. By doing so it makes training an important time of the day as well as helping maintain your commitment.

3) Your work out plan MOST fit your lifestyle:
Too busy to get to the gym? Want to workout at home? There are many exercise videos that you can buy or download and/or join workout classes on select TV stations. You can follow simple instructions from these classes. All you need is an area in your home that can fit a mat or towel and your “set to go”. Follow the exercises and be consistent. You can actually download my FREE  “At Home Workout “video with my trainer Paul for free.
http://www.fabatanyage.com/store/fitandfabulous/

If you are working at home you should also have some simple tools to work with. Here is a video that I made that will explain the six must-have tools to have a full at home workout! It’s pretty good and I explain how to use them.

http://fabatanyage.com/2013/03/6-must-have-tools-for-working-out-at-home/

4) Know your body clock:
Try to work out at the time you have the most energy. If you’re a morning person, W/O early in the day & the reverse works if you’re a night person. Train in the afternoon or evening. Working out while you have the most energy will yield the best results!

5) Workout with a friend:
Encourage one another by exercising together. It’s always motivating if you have someone that’s interested in working out with you as well. You both will keep each other on track. This is also a great way to bond with a buddy while getting in shape.

6) Hire a personal trainer:
Hire a professional even it it’s for a short time. It’s important to learn the proper technique for your personal routine and how to breathe correctly.
(http://fabatanyage.com/fabulousforever/)

7) Work out with weights:
Working out with weights helps creates muscle mass and reshapes the body. Strength training speeds up your metabolism and increases your muscle mass. More muscle mass means that you burn more calories, whether you are exercising or resting. Just remember to rest muscles a day or two after your workout.

8) Cardio is a must:
Cardio exercise should be the last thing you do at the gym, because it helps your body recover by increasing blood flow to the muscles, and flushing out lactic acid, which builds up in the muscles while you’re weight training. “It’s the lactic acid that makes your muscles feel stiff and sore.” Don’t forget to stretch after!

9) Stretch like a cat:
Stretching is very important when you’re working out! Try stretching by moving your body into a position where you feel the stretch. Try to hold it at least 30 seconds& breathe in deeply and exhale. Visualize your muscles stretching and feeling good. Don’t force your stretch or move too quickly.

10) Be Realistic:
Be patient with your work out. Don’t set unrealistic goals. Just focus on what you can do and each time you do it, try to do a little more. Let’s say if you are starting to speed walk each day, start at 20 minutes and increase the walking time a few weeks after. That will keep you on track and you will perfect your workout as the year goes by.

All these workout tips are really important however the most important tips are not to set unrealistic goals for you and always be consistent! You know my mantra is “ Keep On Moving.”

Need help getting started on a workout routine? Looking for a trainer to help you get motivated? Contract Andrea Warshaw Wernick at andrea@fabatanyage.com.