One mistake I see a lot of people make when starting a fitness plan is starting too fast. Now, don’t get me wrong, just getting started, in any fashion, is a huge accomplishment that should be celebrated!
If you’ve taken the first step to prioritizing you and your health (self-care), you’re miles ahead of the folks who are still sitting on their couch waiting until they “have enough time” or it’s the “perfect time” or until sadly a health condition hits them and rocks their world in a bad way.
Neither exists.
But think of your fitness journey as an individual workout. A good coach would tell you not to launch yourself headlong into a workout, because you could run out of gas quickly, get discouraged, and want to quit.
The same is true of your fitness journey as a whole. We just had this discussion in our 6:30 am small group. Tracie said to the group that she was struggling today and didn’t feel as strong as usual. So I refocused the discussion to be about today; She showed up, she is doing 100% of what she has today. Not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now. And that is a Victory!! And she felt great when it was over.
Look, I’ve been writing a lot about getting a “fresh start” and “getting back into a routine” with your fitness. If you’ve been inactive for a while — or prioritizing everyone in your life besides yourself — then step No. 1 is just to get started.
But don’t fall prey to a mistake I’ve seen a lot of people make before they even get to step No. 2.
Don’t come out too hot and burn out. Be kind to yourself and your body. Take your time. Just because someone else is moving fast doesn’t mean you should be.
Celebrate moving. Once you master the basics, get the form down, and build a strong foundation from the ground up, then we can add more weight or more intensity.
This is why so many people who get started with us succeed. There’s no pressure or intimidation to move at a certain pace or lift a certain amount of weight. Certainly not compared to someone across the room who’s been doing this consistently for five years.
Yes, get started. But no, don’t go too fast in the beginning. Enjoy the process, and the journey. It’s honestly the most satisfying part.
