When most women start a fitness routine, they go to extremes. They think success lies in pushing harder, training more, and achieving perfection. This misconception is one of the struggles of the culture we live in and the fitness pros that dominate the media.
The reality is, sustainability and consistency are the core elements of fitness. Creating a sustainable fitness routine ensures that you’re getting the best possible results without burning out, now and in the future.
Tips for Creating a Sustainable Fitness Routine.
Find the Right Exercise
The internet offers a lot of conflicting information about the best workouts. As everyone has different bodies and different goals, there’s no black and white answer to which workout is best. The best exercise for you is the one that you enjoy enough to stick to. In other words, it’s better to choose a low-impact exercise like yoga than a calorie-torching HIIT workout if you can’t commit to the latter.
Choose a form of exercise that you enjoy and dedicate yourself to it. Don’t hesitate to try new things and mix it up occasionally, but find a form of movement you’re passionate about as your core fitness routine.
Find the Right Gym
Next, find the right space to train. Choose a gym that suits your budget and lifestyle while offering the convenience you need to ensure you’re getting your workouts in. Consider one of the larger gyms, like GymNation, with various locations for more convenience.
When choosing the right gym for your needs, it’s also worth considering whether it has the right equipment for your training. Furthermore, determine whether its community and values are supportive and welcoming. Nothing derails a fitness routine faster than gym drama.
Start Small
The biggest mistake you can make when starting a fitness routine is going all in. The key to long-term sustainability in fitness (and nutrition, for that matter) is making small changes and scaling up. When creating a fitness routine, starting small could look like three 30-minute workouts for the first couple of weeks, working up to four 60-minute workouts by the eight-week mark.
Taking a scaleable approach makes it easier to work training into your life while preventing injury and burnout.
Schedule Your Training
Creating a sustainable fitness routine isn’t about finding time to work out; it’s about making time to work out. Before you can claim that you don’t have time, ensure that you’ve accounted for any wasted time in your day. The average person spends over two hours a day on social media. That’s enough time to get in a stellar workout and grab a smoothie on the way home.
Set aside time each week to schedule your training for the next week. Book it in like an appointment and build your day around it. Be sure to prepare everything in advance so you can grab your bag and go when the time comes. If you’re experiencing a busy week, consider how you can get in a 10-minute workout to keep up your momentum.
Fuel Your Body
One of the challenges of creating a sustainable fitness regimen is the idea that a fad diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. Many fad diets result in an extreme calorie deficit. While a minor caloric deficit is necessary to lose weight, being too restrictive can negatively impact workouts.
Ensure your body has what it needs to get through a tough training session. Eat nourishing food, hydrate yourself, and prioritize quality sleep to give your body time to recover.
Use these tips to create a fitness routine that will help you reach your goals over time, then sustain them once they’re accomplished. Taking a sustainable approach to fitness will help prevent the guilt cycle and keep you moving forward.