Exercise is a magic pill that improves physical and mental health and reduces the risk of lifestyle diseases that are prevalent in the society today. The decision to start working out is a crucial one and you begin your journey to healthy living and an improved body and mind. Working out for a beginner may be hard and overwhelming, but will generally reap the benefits sooner than most would think. As a beginner, you may not know where to start, but we’re here to help you out. Below is a guide to work out for beginners.
1. Set Realistic Fitness Goals
As a beginner, you should set fitness goals to guide your workout process. The goals will depend on what changes you would like to see in your body. For instance, you may want to lose belly fat or body weight. You may decide to work out for 30 minutes 4 times in a week in a bid to lose 20 lbs. Your workout plan should be directed to meet these goals. As you set your goals, remember that commitment is fundamental. Be committed to working out and be ready for good and bad days, setbacks and successes. It may be helpful to develop a plan with the help of an online therapist if you are struggling with mental health issues.
2. Developing a Workout Program
Create a workout program that will guide you and help you attain your goals. When developing a workout program, the FITT principle should direct you. FITT is an acronym for frequency, intensity, time and type. Frequency refers to how often you exercise while intensity means how hard you work out. Time refers to the duration of workouts while type means the form of exercise you engage in. You can try this beginner calisthenics workout to develop strength, flexibility, and improve physical health.
3. Start Slowly
A common mistake many beginners make is being too aggressive in their workout too soon. Start your workout slowly and increase the intensity and frequency with time. This will give your body adequate time to adjust to the exercises and build a strong base for you. If you engage in intense exercise too soon, you may end up hurting yourself resulting in injuries. Ensure that your workout routine is tailor-made for you and does not compromise your health. Start slow and made modifications as you progress. Music can be a great motivator so plug in with a great pair of workout headphones and get sweating.
4. Push yourself, but listen to your body
When working out, you are vulnerable to sweating, feeling breathless and burning muscles. You should learn to get comfortable with uncomfortable scenarios such as these. In addition, learn to listen to your body. For instance, do not confuse real pain with burning muscles. When your body says it’s enough, do not try to force it because you may end up injuring yourself. Importantly, there are numerous types of workouts out there; choose something that you love and makes you feel good.
Working out regularly has positive outcomes for maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing the risk of chronic diseases, and improving your mental function. Working out as a beginner can be daunting and challenging, and you do not know where to start. However, setting realistic goals, creating a workout program, starting slowly, and listening to your body will make the workout easy and fun. Remember to supplement your workout plan with a healthy diet and rest when need be.
