10 Tips Starting A Fitness Journey

When I began my wellness & fitness journey, I chose not to tell anyone else. It was difficult fighting for a ‘time slot’ while minding my kids. Yes, it did start out really slow at first and at so many times I just thought of quitting. But now 20 months on I am comfortable to share my struggles. If you’re looking for honest sharing go on and subscribe to my blog and we can be friends. I share and talk about the struggles and triumphs through my entire experience in hope to get other busy moms to focus more on their own well being. Firstly here is 10 Tips For Starting A Fitness Journey – While Minding Kids And….Sticking To It

Yes I do often share my ‘achievements’ and welcome all bits of advice from other health and fitness enthusiasts in return. I am most happy to let you know that while on my self care journey i found out that I actually have had a major effect on people around me too. It has made me stronger, content, grateful, resilient and energetic individual which ironically has made my kids more happier and better disciplined too! I’ve even strive to pursue a profession in nutritional sciences, something i would have never imagined myself to do.

Today’s share is something which I wish someone had told me, before i started on this fitness journey. I draw this 10 tips from experience over time and also from other people. Read more of my 10 Tips For Starting A Fitness Journey

10 Tips Start Fitness Journey — Dress It Up Dress It Down – TOFU Is High In Protein And Contains All Of The Amino Acids Your Body Needs

Diet

Start by altering your food.

Experience suggests cutting back on certain foods, such as refined sugars found in drinks and desserts will increase your energy. Start by changing one meal a day to be healthier and slowly move to all three. Then after you have got your eating habits in a better place move on to expanding the lifestyle.

Scale Away

Exactly that, throw the bathroom weighing scale away.

Weight is dependent on your height, the time of day, and how much muscles you have. Strength training will lean out your body to get rid of fat but it will put on muscles that are heavier than fat. If you don’t see a change in the scale, well thats A-OK. I suggest though to focus on pictures to check out your ‘differences’ yes, keep that camera handy all the time.

You Fit Your Clothes Not The Clothes Fit You
So many times we mothers are made to feel that we have to look or be a certain size! Sometimes you are an S sometimes an L it is all good. I am not defined by the SIZE of clothes that I wear.

Workout Plan

Its a bad idea to go into this without a plan.

You’re going to be needing a plan because I feel you might lose concentration and motivation. You might also waste time OR may end up having an inefficient workout that eats up time in your schedule. If you want to rid the ‘mom tum’ try the SWEAT App. I have been with the SWEAT Community for over 20 Months now and it is full with helpful and encouraging ladies! you can check it out here.

Question Question Question

Thereis no shame in asking those at the gym who are more advanced about how to use weight machines or how long to do cardio.

Seriously! No one in their right frame of mind is going to judge you for your questions certainly not those that i have met working on their own fitness journey anyways. How else are you going to satisfy your concerns? Its quicker and definitely makes it much easier plus, you can always adjust their advice to what fits your routine.

Learn Effectively

Research! Spend some time learning the correct form. Ways to use different machines, workout plans, and tips in order to maximize your time at the gym. You are going to end up wasting your time if you do not execute it properly and worse end up injured!

Support Group

A personal choice of course , but I have learned that being around supportive ladies and fitness enthusiasts is really empowering. Being in a group of people who are motivated to stay fit will keep you motivated as well. I like to follow my favorite fitness influencers and watch them live online. I find that they really do help me during the low days.

Monitor Progress

Keep monitoring. Because it is likely that you will not see instant results from simply looking in the mirror. But, comparing them to previous photos of you body will show a real difference. Don’t forget to take front, side, and back views every two weeks to see change in your body.

Switch Up

I personally switch it up every 6 weeks, Ive realised that every two to three months, my body gets used to a certain workout routine and than boom! I experience plateau. This simply means the workout is no longer as effective and you may or may not see or feel a difference. Fret not , Do not panic just switch it up and try something new! If one month you did solely strength training, try incorporating Zumba, yoga, boxing, or cycling in addition or in place of it.

Listen To Your Body

In order to do a long workout, your body needs fuel and the proper nutrients. While cutting back on fats and carbohydrates is important, remember also that those are often the food groups that will charge your body. When you listen to your body chances are you will find fewer injuries and better progress. So always check on yourself before you wreck yourself, stretch it out too! I cannot stress enough the importance of hydration and stretching.

Regular stretching improved my flexibility. I use the SWEAT app for my stretching routing.

Patience

Last but not at all the least of importance is having patience. Please know that results DO NOT happen overnight This is probably the biggest lesson to learn when you decide to be active. You have to put in the work to get to the place you want to be, slowly building up the number of kilograms you lift per week, increasing cardio, and cutting certain food out of your diet. Saying that though do not BEAT yourself up over a cookie or two!

#mgfnest | mama-gets-fit