There is never a good time to start getting serious about your fitness; the truth is the best time is right now, even though we’re heading into the winter months. You might be tempted to “put it off” until next year; we’re here to inspire you to rethink that idea because every summer beach body knows one thing for sure: it was built in the winter.
If you’ve been thinking about getting fit and it’s the first time you want to take this seriously, or if you’ve been out of the game for a while and it’s time to get back, either way, we’re absolutely thrilled for you. A solid fitness regime has so many fabulous benefits for your overall healthcare. It can help set your body up for long-term benefits in the future, as well as guard against injury, loss of muscle mass as you get older, and turn back the clock on weight gain.
Not only will you experience benefits for your physical health, but regular workouts gives your brain a good dose of endorphins and healthy dopamine too, which is all over very good for your mental health. So, all things considered, win-win.
We want to ensure that you remain motivated to stay the course, so to help get you started, here’s what you need to know about hitting the gym this winter.
WINTER WORKOUTS, NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART
First of all, congratulations on taking the first step towards your new you, it takes guts, determination and more than a little bit of sweat, but if you can make it through the winter – you’ll sail through spring and be more than ready for summer.
Now winter workouts are not for everyone; let’s be clear – you’re going to need to but cut from the right stuff for this because most of us can only work out in the mornings or the evenings. By then, the Great British winter will be giving you every reason to turn off the alarm and go back to bed.
But, all you need to know is this: don’t give up; push through. Plan for cold mornings or chilly evenings and pack before time if you need to. Don’t allow any excuses to put you off. If you’re just starting and you want to be really serious about your program, you may want to consider hiring a personal trainer. Many people think that using a personal trainer is only for the “pros”, but while they’re great for professional training, they’re also perfect if you’re using a personal trainer for the first time.
Your trainer will keep you focused, motivated and on “the plan.”
SEEING IT THROUGH TO THE END
As you start getting into your program, you’re going to figure out what diet works for you, what meals give you the best energy boost at different times of day and how you can structure your life around your workout programs. Our advice is not to be too rigid in the beginning. Yes, you need to have a plan and a structure, but if you are too strict in the beginning, missing a session because of work or home commitments can make you feel demotivated, so allow for some breathing space until you’ve had a few weeks to work out your routine properly.
You’ll begin to notice that as your fitness level starts improving and you begin to reach your milestone goals, you’ll want to start doing more. This is a good thing, but take care not to “plateau” too early; that’s when your body comes to “expect” the workout you’re throwing at it, and you reach a level where you won’t see much improvement. So shake it up! You might want to try new sports like basketball or rugby (yep, the ladies are getting in on rugby too), or hiking and track work.
However, you structure your workouts and whatever your goals are, welcome to the fitness fanatics world, work easy through the pain, celebrate your gain and keep visualising that swimsuit. Good luck!
