It's Time To Get Back To The GYM... And Stick With It!
So, you've been out of the gym for a little while and it's time to get back into it? What's that? It's been a lot longer than a little while? Now you feel gross with the weight that you might have gained and even walking through the doors into the gym feels like an incredibly daunting task? Well I have some great news! You're not alone. Many people struggle to get back into the gym after taking a prolonged absence from the gym, and it's not easy to get back into the swing of things, but I am here to give you some pointers on how to not just get back into the gym, but to consistently do so, and even reach your goals more effectively.
Step 1: Make a Plan. This one should seem like a no brainer but some people take the approach of just winging it while they go to the gym and this is what leads to a drop off once the initial novelty of going to the gym wears off. Instead of coming in whenever and hoping for the best, I recommend asking yourself two questions: What is your goal? What are you going to do to reach that goal? This goal can be anything because you can change it whenever you want, so you don't need to go crazy or overthink it. You can start off by setting a goal of going to the gym 3 days a week, and achieve this goal by going every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You might find that 3 days is too much, or you might find it's just right, adjust your goal as you deem fit. After a while, you can change your goal to something more specific, such as wanting to exercise for “x” amount of minutes or lose “x” amount of weight. The biggest point is that it's YOUR goal, and you should be doing the steps to get there because YOU want to.
Step 2: Follow Through With Your Plan. So you've come up with a game plan, fantastic! Unfortunately, coming up with said plan isn't going to get you to your goals, now comes the time to act on those plans. The most important part of this is being consistent. I will not lie to you, not all days will be easy. It doesn't matter if you are getting back into the gym or you are a certified gym junkie, there will be days where the motivation is not there or you will find it difficult to complete your exercises. This is normal, and if you’re just getting back into the gym, these days will be more frequent, but it is important to stick with it. As soon as you start deviating from your plan, you’ll find it’s a slippery slope of changes. Don't be discouraged if you find yourself in this situation. Instead, remind yourself that this is all a part of the process, and that the more effectively you can get through these days, the closer you will get to your goals.
Step 3: Enjoy the Process. Arguably the most important step, if you want to truly succeed in getting back into the gym, be able to stick with it, and crush your goals, you have to enjoy the entire process of getting there. The good, the bad, the ugly, all of it. You have to enjoy the feeling of pushing yourself to your limits, the unruly amount of sweat, the soreness that makes you question whether you can even get out of bed, because these are what lead to crushing your PR on the bench press or being able to slip into those pair of jeans with ease. Whether it be by having a friend join you, having a personal trainer, or finding new exercises that you really vibe with, if you can find enjoyment in coming into the gym you are on the yellow brick road towards the Wizard of Success (in no way related to Oz).
This is because fitness is a lifestyle. You can't expect to put in half the work and get the full results: you reap what you sow. If you are regretting coming into the gym on a daily basis, and you are hating every second of it, could you see yourself sticking with it to see the results that you want? Or do you see yourself reaching those goals if you are looking forward to going to the gym and pushing yourself with a friend? The only factor holding you back is how you decide to tackle the obstacle in front of you. Take obstacles in stride, shatter your goals and then set new goals to shatter again, and before you know it, you’ll be looking at your past self and questioning why you were concerned with coming in to begin with.
Don't hesitate to reach out to us for a complimentary session, where we can discuss a customized workout plan, and get you started in reaching your health and fitness goals! We are here to support you! Click here for more info.
Author:
Dylon Willis
Personal Trainer, The GYM @ Norton
B.S. in Exercise Science