Getting started in fitness is a wildly overcomplicated topic. How you get started doesn’t really matter. What matters is starting. The modality that you choose doesn’t matter. Pick whatever modality you will actually do consistently!
When I was twenty-nine or thirty and home a lot during the pandemic I loved powerlifting. I had ample recovery time, I only had to go into my basement and there were no waits for the equipment. Plus, I could eat immediately after.
Now that I’m much busier (and approaching thirty-five) what works for me and what I will stick to has changed.
This will happen to you over the course of your fitness journey if you don’t give up. That’s ok.
What can you do to make getting started in fitness easier?
There are some things you can do to increase your chances of adherence. There are also some better options for complete beginners. Beginners might not know what modality they’ll stick to the best.
Remember: You can always add more as you gain confidence. You can’t undo injuries or even soreness.
If you’re a complete beginner or you have no clue where to start at all there is an easy and obvious first step: Start walking.
Walking may not seem intense enough to make a difference. I promise you it can make a huge impact. Remember: You can always add more workouts later.
Walking can graduate into jogging. You can walk further. You can start lifting weights.
If you’re looking to get into strength training: Find something sustainable. The principle of starting small and adding as you gain confidence applies here too.
For example, if you come out of the shoot guns blazing at four or five sessions per week your reward will probably be intense soreness. Chances are you’ll miss workouts the following week too. If you start the process of getting into fitness with one or two sessions a week, then add a third after a month or two, you’ll be much better off.
You can apply this to anything. You want to start yoga? Try one per week. Cycling? Try one or two.
After you’ve been doing a pretty good job running and want to work on strength and mobility— Add one or two days a week of strength training.
Getting Started in fitness when you have no clue what you’re doing
Whatever modality you start with, I think your health, performance, and goals will be enhanced greatly by strength training. You can start out strength training from the jump or you can add it after some time.
Regardless of when you dip your toe into strength training, it can be scary. The risk of injury is there. The risk of spinning your wheels doing ineffective workouts is there.
Just like with yoga or cycling, I’d recommend trying this with a trainer as a total beginner. You can hire a private trainer if you can afford it or you can join a small group training program like our Fit For Life program.
Programs like this offer the best of both worlds. It combines affordable rates with individualized coaching. Allowing up to six people in a workout session allows businesses to charge less money. However it is still a small enough group that you can receive hands on, professional coaching on form, safety, when to go up in weight, and programming.
Pairing something like this two days a week with your running routine or your daily walks is an incredible way to get in amazing shape. Doing something like this three days a week as your main thing is also a great option for beginners.
Ensure progress and safety, save money, and take all the guesswork out of it!
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