I think it’s fair to say Covid-19 and lockdown has taught us many things. From baking, to Instagram challenges, to bullet journals, I personally threw myself into everything – well, nearly everything. Despite home-workouts and cheap dumbbells frequently popping up on my socials, I still managed to convince myself that now still wasn’t the right time to get fit. You see, I have never shown an interest in fitness. I’m not sporty or athletic; at school, P.E. was just an opportunity to catch up with friends and have a laugh. I knew fitness was meant to be a part of life but I couldn’t seem to find the confidence or motivation to start. It was like I was trapped in a place where fitness wasn’t ‘for me’, except I soon came to realise it was.
It did take me a few lockdowns and number of different tiers to get started but I can honestly say I am enjoying my running. It’s taken a lot of focus and I have definitely stepped out my comfort zone but I’m here to tell the tale – and I feel great!
To give you a head start on your journey, I have compiled some advice to get you started. This is realistic advice from my realistic story.
Get nice working-out clothes!
Honestly, fake it till you make it. You may not feel confident yet but the world doesn’t have to know that! Hop online and get some fun leggings or a cute new sports bra, start convincing your local neighborhood that you’ve been doing this for years! And trust me, when you look the part, you’ll start to feel a part.
Download a tracking app
You may not expect to see this on my ultimate list of advice but nothing is more motivating than seeing your progress. You don’t have to share your records with anyone but seeing improvements will push you to carry on and reach new goals!
Take it slow
From personal experience, I can guarantee that if you start your workout too quickly, you’ll get tied immediately and loose confidence. Take it slow and pace yourself – start your workout by stretching and warming up; when you start the main body of your workout don’t go too fast but sustain a consistent amount of effort. Plus, this helps you see your improvements each time!
Get a friend involved
Yep, you heard me. Grab your friend and drag them along. Often working out with someone can add the right amount of pressure to push yourself and obtain your goals! Make a collaborative playlist, get matching exercise accessories, and get going!
Everyone had to start somewhere…
Even the professionals had to start somewhere! There’s no promise that going on a 15-minute jog on a Tuesday morning will turn you into a gold medalist but you don’t know the lengths you are capable of until you start. Don’t be embarrassed about your fitness level when you start your journey, just try and focus on how fit you’ll be when you reach your destination.
Block out the world
Exercising in public for many can be difficult, and often this challenge goes underrated. But there are definitely some things to bear in mind in these situations which will make you feel more at ease. Firstly, realistically, in the gym everyone is concentrating on themselves. If people are looking around the room, its not because they are starring at you, it’s because they want to check no one is looking at them before they check themselves out in the mirror. When it comes to exercising outdoors however, the circumstances change. Most importantly you have the power to quickly move away from people, by literally running away from them. You also need to remind yourself how you’d react to seeing someone exercising outdoors – the truth is you, wouldn’t even give it a second thought.
Just start!
It sounds harsh but its true. Don’t wait for the ‘right time’ to get going, because you could be waiting a long time. There isn’t much to say here expect have fun and good luck!
And there you have it, the amateur advice to getting fit. I’m no personal trainer or sports professional but I am a 21-year-old woman discovering the benefits of fitness properly for the first time. It doesn’t matter where you start it just matters where you finish. It’s no secret that exercise can improve your physical and mental wellbeing, so why not give it a try? So grab your new leggings and your friend and start that journey!
Rebecca Herman
Image courtesy of Andrew Tanglao on Unsplash . Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
