How to start your fitness journey

Don't hate me for saying it, but....

JUST START.

Remember everyone starts somewhere. Don't get stuck in an "all or nothing" mindset. You don't need to buy all that gear. Those leggings. Fancy supplements. You have all you need to start: your body. You can figure it out as you go! Buy those weights, that band, any and everything, later. No more procrastination.

Have a goal + make a plan that aligns with said goal(s).

Make a realistic goal(s). Performance goals are great! They keep you challenged so you don't plateau, and they encourage you to improve. It is much more rewarding to workout to appreciate what your body can DO, rather than how it can look.

Examples:

Goal: I want to lose fat

Plan: I will work out 3x's a week

Performance Goal: I want to do a push up

Plan: I will work out my upper body 2-3x's a week incorporating push-up progressions. Here is a link to some progressions to build your way up to a push-up! https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQosVq7jRt-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Plan those workouts, show up for them consistently and in a few weeks you have created a new healthy habit that will change your life!!!

The more muscle you gain/maintain, the more calories you burn; thus the more fat you will burn. As a beginner you can build muscle and burn fat simultaneously, which is called recomping. Lifting weights is a great way to do this!

Don't subtract, add.

Creating an abundance mindset is important to maintain a sustainable fitness journey and overall healthy lifestyle.

1. Instead of restricting food groups (unless medically advised by a professional doctor), add in more nutrients. When we eat nutrient dense foods like vegetables we can eat a higher volume of them for less calories.

2. Try to add protein into every meal.

To calculate how much protein to eat per day you can multiply your weight x's 0.36, or use this calculator. Protein helps you stay full and satiated at meals, recover quicker, and

Lay a foundation down; start small.

Go for a 15-30 min walk 3x's a week. Eat one homemade meal with veggies filling half of the plate a day. Drink 16 oz bottles of water a day. Going big or going home is not the approach we want to use here. We are gradually building new and replacing old habits to improve our lifestyle long-term. Once we have a foundation we can build onto it and level UP.

Find your fitness

Everyone has a type of fitness routine they enjoy. Test out different styles of fitness. Fitness is not one size fits all. Go to a class. Join a friend at the gym. Explore all the fun things and find what works for you. Hint: it is the one you enjoy and feel good during +/ afterwards. It should be challenging but overall fulfilling. You will not be motivated everyday but once it is a habit you will show up because you know that you will feel better after!

Do not compare!!!

Check your ego. Comparison happens when our ego wants to protect us + keep us in a comfortable space. It does so by making us fearful or doubtful. Acknowledge these feelings and remind yourself that your growth is more important - that this "comfortable space" of doubt and fear is stunting your growth and inhibiting your potential. Temporary comfort leads to long-term discomfort. It is not comfortable feeling stuck. On the other hand, temporary discomfort leads to long-term comfort. Growth is scary but showing up for yourself through healthy habits will increase your self-confidence and trust. Build so much trust in yourself that when your ego tries to hold you back ("protecting" you), you know that you are able to handle the possible outcomes of your goals. You can trust your potential more than you trust your ego.

It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. Working on yourself is hard. Being stuck in hate, doubt, and fear is also hard. Choose your hard.

Lastly, I believe in you! I am rooting for you and am so excited for you to begin this process of creating a life you love. Thank you for reading + I hope this blog helps you start. You deserve it.