Have you ever wished that you could instantly undo overindulgence? I have definitely done that in the past. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. If you read my blog regularly, you would know that I have recently returned from my honeymoon. During my time in Asia, I worked out only a couple of times and honestly, I was eating everything I fancied as it was a trip of my lifetime.
Getting more active and starting to exercise again can be challenging sometimes, thus I put a few simple steps that you can all follow to maximise your chances of sticking to your healthy routine. This approach worked for me and I hope that it will also help you to stick to your healthy routine.
- Find an exercise routine that works for you and you enjoy.
It doesn’t matter what it is: yoga, gym, walking just put any activity you enjoy in your routine, schedule it and go for it. I love my strength and power sessions at my gym and I attend them at least 3 times a week if my busy schedule at work allows it. Try to wake up earlier and start your day being active. I actually got used to getting up at 5:30 and having my workouts before work. When I arrive at my office, I am normally already fully awake, my endorphins are at their highest level and I am ready to rock!
- Set realistic goals
When I was younger, I was quite often disappointed that the goal I worked toward didn’t materialise as soon as I would wish it to do. In order to see the results, you need to stay on track and what I like to personally do is to set both short-term and long-term objectives. Try doing a challenge for 2 / 4/ 8 weeks and don’t forget to set milestones where you review your progress.
- Track your progress
Buy any activity tracking device that could help you to stick to your objectives. I’ve tried quite a few of them as you probably know fitness trackers come in all shapes and forms, have different features and are design to fit all price categories. I currently have a Garmin tracker and I like it as it tracks my sleep, steps, physical activity etc. -standard features of many other fitness trackers.
- Find a buddy
It is great to start your getting back into fitness journey with a friend or a colleague so you can both motivate each other and make sure that you stay on track.
- Think different – Electric Bikes!
There comes that time in everyone’s exercise regime where they want something different or some variety. Electric bikes are perfect for those who wish to pedal manually or can be used as extra assistance with the electric motor and so perfect for anyone who needs to ease themselves into fitness this year. Visit Fenetic Wellbeing website for more details.
http://www.feneticwellbeing.com/product-category/leisure/electric-bikes/
- Don’t give up and enjoy it!
The key to succeed is to never give up. I am quite active and I am trying to be healthy however like all of you I have my weak points. I am a massive foodie and if I wasn’t working out I would probably be massive now! You need to be realistic with your goals and at the same time enjoy your life so when you go out for a meal have what you like but make sure that you balance your diet and eat less day after. I never say ‘no’ to a sticky toffee pudding but at the same time I know my limits and I try not to have it too often. Having a ‘cheat day’ once a week when you indulge or have a treat is ok as long as you stay on track and limit it to I.e. weekly not a daily activity.
In order to stay on track I got involved in #FeneticFitness. Fenetic Wellbeing are a mobility company who exist to provide customers with the right healthcare and mobility products for their individual needs. #FeneticFitness’s aim is to help ease and encourage people back into exercise. The campaign is inspired by January being the time that people tend to detox, make New Year resolutions and think ahead to getting fit for summer. So what are you waiting for? Join #FeneticFitness today and enter a competition to win.
From 2nd of February until 14th of February my followers from UK can win a MISFIT Shine 2 Activity Tracker in Rose Gold if they follow @1stclasslounge on Twitter (mandatory). All followers can also get the additional entries by using the Rafflecopter. Winner will be announced on the 14th of February on Twitter. The prize will be send by 2ndclass recorded delivery. This giveaway is running in collaboration with Fenetic Wellbeing.
You can enter the competition using the Rafflecopter below:
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/437af2d31/?
Terms and Conditions:
- The competition is run on Twitter by Firstclasslounge.net
- There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
- The competition is open ONLY to residents of Great Britain aged 18 and over as at the time of the competition opening. Failure to comply with any part of this clause will disqualify the respective entry from the competition. Prize will not be posted outside of Great Britain.
- Only one entry per person per weekly prize draw competition will be accepted.
- Each entrant shall enter the prize draw via Rafflecopter and follow @1stclasslounge.
- In order to get additional entries please use Rafflecopter. Obscene or inappropriate entries will not be accepted and FirstClassLounge.net reserves the right to reject any entries for any reason at its sole discretion.
- The winning prize is a MISFIT Shine 2 Activity Tracker in Rose Gold.
- The promoter (FirstClassLounge.net) will not be liable for any failure of receipt of entries. The promoter takes no responsibility for any entries which are lost, delayed, illegible, corrupted, damaged, incomplete or otherwise invalid.
- Prizes are non-negotiable, non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative is available.
- In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond the promoter’s reasonable control, the promoter reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the prize draw competition or these terms and conditions, either in whole or in part, with or without notice.
- These terms and conditions and the competition prize draw are governed by English law and subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
- Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
- The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- This promotion is in not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Twitter or any other Social Network.
- The promoter’s decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
- The winner’s twitter username will be posted on Twitter by @1stclasslounge after the winner has been selected.
Good luck everyone!
What are your getting back to fitness tips?
X
Pauline
firstclasslounge.net 
It is only a small step but I have started to drink skimmed milk.
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Every little helps 🙂 thanks for sharing your tip X
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As the comment above I have also started to watch my milk intake as its quite high on the calorie front. I have also swapped my lager for alcohol free lager, it has two third less calories and actually the research says very healthy for you.
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That’s great! thank you for sharing x
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Interesting reading and some useful practical tips, thanks.
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Thank you Vicky 🙂
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Lowering my carb intake seems to give me much more energy (and motivation) to exercise.
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Thanks for your comment Sophie! x
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I always try not to sit down, unless I absolutely have to. You use more energy standing than sitting, so I even eat my luchtime sandwich standing up!
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I have never thought about that! Thanks for your tip x
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Small bites, be good to yourself and find something you enjoy x
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Thank you Katie! Great tip X
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Cut out bread to stop that bloating feeling so you will feel motivated to workout
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Thank you 🙂 I try to limit my carbs and it really helps x
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Just what I need
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Glad to hear that you like it! x
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I think my top tip is that if you have an exercise routine that you’re struggling to get back into, then doing just a little of it – a few reps here and there – is so much better than nothing. It gets the right muscles used to being used again.
I slip so easily into thinking that if I can’t do most or all of my routine I might as well not bother, but taking a couple of minutes to do a quick warm up and a few lifts is really helpful.
Also telling yourself that you’ll only do the start of it, and then you don’t have to carry on if you really don’t want to, can break the lack of motivation cycle. A bit like telling a child that if they genuinely don’t like the food they’ve been given then that’s ok, but they must at least try it once before rejecting it! Once I get going I often find my interest coming back.
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Great comment! Thank you for contributing X
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I always like to set a goal, and no cheating. My this year goal is loosing my twin mum tummy. I’ve been so good so far 🙂
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Setting goals is a great starting point. Well done and keep on your good work. X
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Just make a start at it, but don’t feel you need to rush to get to full fitness straightaway. Start small and build up.
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I don’t drive as I love to walk but I have to admit that the horrible, cold, rainy days prevented me in walking so much and it shows. I am not a big fan of exercising so I started using my WII console to dance with Zumba. I LOVE it! I do this only for 20 minutes every day (don’t want to pule any muscles:)) and I feel sooo much better.
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Great tips Oli! I love to dance so probably should try Zumba too! x
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Commit for Thirty Days! Make a commitment to go every day for one month. This will solidify the exercise habit and its not so daunting 🙂
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Sounds like a great challenge! X
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Do some form of exercise first thing in the morning, before you eat. This gives you the opportunity to get it done and out of the way before you start the day, as well as increasing your energy levels etc.
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use smaller sized plates for your meals which will make you think you are eating more so you will be more full
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I’m going on honeymoon in May and planning on eating lots there, especially after dieting to fit into my wedding dress! I’m planning to push myself to go to the gym regularly as I already walk everywhere, and to cut out junk food and takeaways for a bit once we’re back.
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I used to skip breakfast and lunch and then eat a big evening meal but have now made the time to eat a proper healthy breakfast of porridge and a smoothie and feel i have so much more energy now.
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start off slow so you dont injure yourself and give up
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Try to balance a modest reduction of intake with a modest increase in activity to burn the fat off!
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Following a longstanding injury forcing me to give up my love of jogging I am currently literally walking before I can run and taking things slowly but steadily so as not to go backwards. So my advice is not to push too much but take each day step at a time.
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Take the exercise slow but surely before gradually ramping up to more strenuous levels!
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Drink lots of water, sometimes when you think you’re hungry you’re actually just thirsty.
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I am cutting out all fat from my diet in the hope my high cholesterol will eventually be normal – It is currently at 10.9 which has been scary but I am also on 80 mg of statins so hopefully the two will work together.
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Swap white bread for brown, if you have 2 sugars cut down to 1, use semi skimmed milk and limit treats to weekends.
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Quit sugar!
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Great tips! My biggest tip to add would be to put 80% of your focus on nutrition and 20% on exercise 😊
Some more specific ones: drink more water, make sure you eat healthy 80% of the time (doesn’t need to be 100% of the time), get enough protein in every meal and snack, and eat lots of veg 😁
Oh, and make it a lifestyle, not a short-term thing 👌
Awesome post, thanks again!
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I think what you said about realistic goals is the best thing, i personally find exercise so much easier to enjoy if you can see progress in what your doing, and since exercise is such a long term thing a lot of people get disheartened because they aren’t seeing the results quick enough, so for me setting short term goals to stay on track worked wonders. This post was great and filled with fantastic advice, thank you for sharing.
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