You end up traveling for work, come back with a cold and pretty soon you have been out of the gym for 2, 3 maybe even 4 weeks…sound familiar?!? You would be surprised how often this happens, so we wanted to give you a few tips to getting back in the gym!
The truth is that there is always something in life to “de-rail” your fitness, but that doesn’t mean you just stop completely! We know it’s tough to enter into a challenging workout after time “off” so here are some tips to remember:
- Just show up. We know that the workouts are challenging, but they won’t get any easier the longer you are away, so just show up! You can slow it down, modify the movements and just plan to get a sweat going. The first class will be the hardest, but it will only take 1-3 classes to get back into your routine, so just show up for that first class
- Take it one class at a time. Sometimes, if you think of “how far you have fallen” from where you were or “how far you need to go” to get to where you want to be in your fitness journey, it can be extremely overwhelming and daunting. We suggest you just take it one class at a time! Try not to think of the big picture, because that can absolutely be overwhelming and a little discouraging, so just show up for 1 class that week, then another class that week, then another. Take it one class at a time and focus on your effort in that class only. Give it all you have, whatever that looks like for you right now, and be happy and proud of yourself for showing up!
- Think of the benefits. It is no secret that most of us could use a little more activity throughout our daily lives. It’s also no secret that the “Standard American Diet” isn’t one that involved enough green vegetables and clean, whole foods, so the benefits of getting regular exercise are HUGE. We understand that burpees are not everyone’s favorite activity, but if you can focus on the mental, emotional and physical benefits that you get from a consistent exercise routine, that can be a huge motivating factor to get back into the gym! We know that showing up is a very tough piece, but we also know that you will ALWAYS feel better after getting a workout in. Your day is set up for success, whether that is just feeling really good, having an energy surge or setting yourself up to maybe move a little more throughout the day or eat a little better at your lunch break.
We are always here to offer you support and accountability, so if you are struggling to get back into the gym after some time away, shoot us an email! We want you to succeed and accomplish all of your health and fitness goals, no matter what those are, so if you need a little more accountability on your journey, we are more than happy to provide that for you!
-Kari Kirkendall Nutrition Coach / Youth Program Director / Media & Event Director
