I have always been in and out of the gym. In high school I ran cross county and was on the swim team. I gymmed it up in my early twenties and trained for the NYC marathon. I worked out through my pregnancy with Marcus and felt so good up until delivery. And then post-partum depression kicked in, and I fell off the wagon. I’ve been back and forth with trying to find “my soul mate workout” ever since. It isn’t easy to get back into working out when you are out of shape, so I am sharing all my secrets to getting started, whether you haven’t been in a few weeks or have never lifted a dumbbell in your life.
1. Stop judging yourself.
This is number one. Mainly because I think WE are the biggest reason for holding ourselves back from doing the things we want. It could be changing careers, trying a new workout studio or pursuing a passion that scares the heck of us. But usually the only thing keeping us from our goals and dreams is who we see in the mirror. Trust me. No one in the gym is going there to people watch and laugh. They are there for the same reason you are. To push their bodies, get a little stronger and feel a little better. Don’t let you fear of what others think stop you from trying to get back into working out. I did for way too long!
2. Grab some new gear.
Invest in yourself, guys! Get a sports bra that fits. Find a pair of legging that you feel confident in. Treat yourself to a pretty new yoga mat. It doesn’t have to be a whole wardrobe or a Peleton bike. A water bottle and a cute new journal might be enough to remind you every day that you are loving your body.
3. Find your reason. And make it good!
I have been to the gym plenty of times as punishment for over eating, because I wanted to change my looks or because I thought dropping another five pounds would fix all my problems. Go to the gym because of something positive. Make a goal that has nothing to do with your size, weight or shape and everything to do with WHO you are. Do you need some serious stress relief from your kids or job? Are you feeling tired when you just look at the subway steps? Maybe you are like me and just want to be able to run after your toddler while they learn to ride their bike without becoming a hot, sweaty mess.
4. Set some goals.
Nope. Not those kinds. Don’t worry about pounds lost or inches gained or anything. Find something to focus on that you can control. I decided I wanted to continually better my spin class score. I wanted to focus on small wins. Maybe I didn’t get my furthest ride, but I got my highest rpms. Maybe you want to run a mile or touch your toes. Find a goal, make a plan to achieve it, and get going!
5. Find a friend.
This is such a huge one. Especially if you are stepping out of your comfort zone and going to a new class or gym space and are a little intimidated. Find a friend who you can drag along with you. I promise you will be extra motivated when you are next to your own personal cheerleader. And they will push harder because they have you! Commiserate after in your post workout haze. Build that camaraderie that only comes from challenging yourselves together. Why do you think kids love team sports so much??
6. Try something new.
Be brave. Be bold. Try something you haven’t ever done before. I went to my first Barry’s Bootcamp a few weeks ago. I got to the studio and almost left before class. I was so intimidated! But I was curious about what it was all about and if I could even stay in the class for the length of time. And to my surprise, I ROCKED it. OK, it was by far the hardest workout of my life, but it was SO much fun and I felt like a total rockstar at the end because I did it.
Tell me what workout you are doing now or what you are wanting to try out!
