Health and fitness is something that we all have an interest in to some extent. Our health is what will follow us throughout our lives, and in many cases will determine the quality of life that we live and how long we get to live.
However, due to work, school, etc., many of us aren't active and have poor health. Many people want to start the road to fitness, but aren't really sure where to start or what it takes to get in shape. It also may seem intimidating to start working on your fitness after neglecting exercise for a long time.
There is hope, however, for everyone wanting to get in shape; fitness is something that you can start working on at any point in your life. You are never too old or too out of shape to start working on your health. For anyone looking to lose weight, gain fitness or for those that want to make a life change, here are a few tips on getting started from someone who used to be in your same shoes.
1. It sucks at first so don't feel bad.
When I first started running to lose weight I was 5'9" and about 200 pounds. For me, running absolutely sucked; it took everything I had to make it one lap around a standard track and it felt horrible the entire time. This was not the type of encouragement I needed to get started on my fitness path. However, within only a matter of weeks of consistent exercise, my body started to adjust to the activity and I was able to work out without absolutely hating it. So my first point of advice is to stick with it, even when the exercise sucks because it will get better and eventually it will even become enjoyable.
2. Start with small goals.
The second piece of advice that I have for those looking to get in shape is to start with small goals. Getting in shape only works when we can see the results of our work and when we reach the goals that we've set for ourselves. When I was losing weight, I was encouraged by the numbers I saw on the scale which only made me want to workout more and made me happier to go out and exercise. This is only because I was always reaching goals that I set along the way. I would make a plan to lose five pounds this month and to not drink soda all month, and I would be excited at the end of the month when I realized I actually lost seven pounds and that I hadn't touched a soda in 30 days. These things pushed me to keep going and gave me the sense of accomplishment that you need in order to be successful at getting in shape.
3. Find a friend.
The final startup advice I have on getting in shape is to find a friend in the same situation as you -- a friend that you know will hold you accountable. I didn't have a friend to exercise with when I was losing weight and I remember always wishing that someone was there trying to do the same thing as me. However, I did have friends that held me accountable for my health. If I went out with friends and tried to buy some candy, I had great friends that knew I was trying to lose weight and would instead convince me to buy something healthier as a snack. In the end, this is what helped prevent me from having setbacks in my weight loss and fitness efforts. So having a friend that is in the same boat as you is something that is extremely valuable when starting off.
These things will help get you started down the path to health and fitness but what really matters is that you'll be doing something that is great for your health and will help make your future life much better. Health is something that is invaluable and that we should all work to be better at. All the small tips above will help start you on a much bigger path that ends with a lifetime interest in fitness and health.
