Today officially marks the first day of spring! With summer just 13 weeks away, now is a great time to kick start your workout routine. Whether you are new to working out or are just looking to change up your current routine, I’m offering some tips on how to get started and stay motivated.
Starting a new workout routine can be daunting, especially if you are new to working out and don’t necessarily know where to begin. Buying a new gym membership may be a good way to get started, but if you aren’t sure what workouts you should be doing and tend to stick to the same workout routines each time, you may get bored easily, lose motivation, and not see the results you are looking for.
One of the ways I’ve been able to stay in shape and motivated is through taking group fitness classes. Classes can be a great way to push you past your comfort zone. Because you are surrounded by others who may be at a better fitness level than you are, you’ll likely be motivated to work harder. A lot of studios that offer classes also charge you for canceling late, so you are less likely to skip out on a class if you know money is on the line. If you aren’t sure which classes to take or what studio to join, I recommend ClassPass if it is available in your area. ClassPass is monthly membership that is offered through most major cities that allows you to sign up for classes and “gym time” at different studios or gyms nearby. Since there is so much variety with ClassPass, you won’t get bored with doing the same workout class or routine. If you don’t have ClassPass in your area, you can still take classes through a studio membership. I find that the classes at studios tend to be more challenging than those at the gym. If you want to try ClassPass, you can sign up now to get $30 off your first month through my referral link: ClassPass Referral
If you are new to working out or the thought of going to a class intimidates you, a great way to get started (which is how I got started with my fitness journey: read My Story), is through training for a race. Signing up for a race is a great way of staying motivated as it sets an end goal in mind and you’ll be less likely to tap out since you paid to sign up for that race. If you need help with how to begin training for a race such as a 5K, The Couch to 5K Running Plan is a great way to start. Running isn’t the only workout you should do, but may be a great way to help start shedding those extra winter pounds.
If running isn’t your thing and you don’t have the money or time for classes, you can always workout from the comfort of your own home. Some of the most effective workouts can be done in 20 minutes or less and only 2-3 times per week. These types of workouts are called “HIIT” high intensity interval training. Which means doing high intensity workout intervals in a short period of time. So think jump squats, burpees, and mountain climbers with little-to-no rest in between each move. Your “rest” periods can be lower intensity workouts such as push-ups and crunches or you can rest completely for 20-30 seconds following the high intensity exercises. HIIT workouts can be as short as 8-10 mins and highly effective due to their ability to get your heart rate up quickly, allowing your body to work at about 90% of it’s VO2 max. Meaning you are expending energy at about 90% of your total max effort. Check out this do-anywhere beginner-friendly HIIT workout video from one of my favorite fitness ladies, Emily Skye.
If you are looking for a more challenging HIIT workout, check out this workout video I did this weekend. You can complete this full circuit as shown in the video 4-5 times depending on your fitness level. As always, make sure to properly warm-up before, whether it be a light jog or jumping jacks.
Now that you are ready to get moving, here is a little bonus tip to stay motivated: Lay out your workout clothes and plan your pre-workout snack/fuel the night before so that you are ready to go in the morning.
Have you started a new workout routine? I’d love to hear what keeps you moving. Comment below on how you stay motivated.
