5 Tips for Beginning Your Fitness Journey

 Can you believe the Olympics have officially come to a close?

I’m glad that the Spice Girls reunited in the Closing Ceremony (oh the childhood memories), but I could have definitely enjoyed a few more days of celebrating athletic abilities and the human spirit.

But, the next best thing to do is to find the athlete in you and come up with some of your own Olympic-sized fitness goals. If you think you have nothing in common with the athletes you admired on TV for the past 17 days you are wrong. Every Olympian started with a goal that took them on a fitness journey to reach their gold-medal accomplishments.

And, today the AMAZING Courtney from Sweet Tooth Sweet Life is taking over BSW today with an awesome post on beginning your fitness journey…so we can all end up at Olympic status some day! Courtney motivates and inspires so many people in the blog-sphere with her daily musings on health and life…oh, and to make her cat Cody famous. It is a true honor to have her share her advice on setting and reaching our fitness goals.

Without further ado…here is Courtney’s post:

Sometimes, for many, the thought of putting on your workout clothes and stepping into the gym can feel like quite a daunting task. Perhaps you’ve never really been into the “whole fitness craze.” Perhaps you’ve been comfortable in a stagnant routine. Perhaps life got in the way, and somehow fitness got pushed to the wayside. But sometimes, hopefully, you finally get to that point when you realize…okay, enough is enough. It’s time to get up, get moving, and start taking control of your life…it’s time to begin your fitness journey.

For some, this thought alone can seem overwhelming, but as long as you’ve got the right mindset, the support, and the determination, you’re going to be okay. I promise.

Here are a few of my favorite tips to keep in mind as you begin on this fabulous journey to a fit and healthy life:

1. Set Specific Goals & Write Them Down

Do you want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Be able to run a mile on the treadmill without getting winded? Whatever it may be, know what it is before you even lace up those sneakers. As nice as it may be, dropping that weight or building those rockin’ muscles is not going to happen overnight…it takes time, but that’s okay. This is why you’re going to want to take those specific goals and break them down into smaller, more attainable steps.

Then, take those specific goals, and the small steps you’re going to work towards, and write them down. Doing this, as well as writing out an exercise schedule, will not only keep you more organized, but it will give you a constant, visual reminder of what it is that you’re working toward.

2. Figure Out Your Work Out “Mojo”

Some people get motivated by being around others who are working up a sweat. If you’re one of those people, consider signing up for (or finally utilizing!) a gym membership or a boot camp package. You may be able to have access to group exercise classes, personal trainers, or new workout buddies to help you reach your goals.

Some people, however, may find that a gym membership is not ideal (i.e., too intimidating, budget restrictions) so try setting up a home gym. Fitness equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines can be an expensive investment; but if you’re just starting out, try sticking with a couple pairs of dumbbells, a stability ball, an exercise mat, and maybe a few of your favorite workout DVD’s. You can find some of my favorites here.

3. Eat Right

As much as we often hate to hear it, proper nutrition is going to be the biggest factor in a successful fitness journey. Eating the right foods can help you lose weight, boost your energy, and help keep you fueled through your exercise program to help you achieve your fitness goals.

4. Drink Lots of Water

Try to aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day, and continue to hydrate yourself while you exercise. Dehydration inhibits muscle function and puts cardiovascular functioning at risk. Keeping hydrated throughout the day will help improve your exercise performance and overall energy.

5. Get Plenty of Sleep

It’s not always easy, but try your best to stick to a sleep schedule that has you going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Six to eight hours of sleep a night is ideal, and will help give you the energy to work through your fitness goals! Learn the healthiest sleeping positions so you always get the most your of your shut eye time.

The biggest thing to remember on your fitness path to greatness is to take everything one step at a time…bite size style!

What tips do you have for beginning your fitness journey? Do you love the Spice Girls? Comment below!

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