6 Tips for Starting a New Workout Routine

Regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce pain, build strength and maintain bone mass. Despite all the benefits, many people do not get enough exercise. If you are planning to start a new exercise routine, these six tips can help you get started.

1. Improve Your Nutrition

Exercise by itself will probably not be enough to achieve all of your fitness goals. Additionally, if you are lacking key nutrients, your body may have difficulty sustaining the increased workload of your new routine. Focus on adding lean proteins and whole fruits, vegetables and grains to your diet, while reducing the number of refined grains, sugar and salt. If you are attempting to lose weight, or undertaking an ambitious fitness routine, you may have difficulty getting all of the nutrients you need from the food you eat. Consider adding supplements, such as the Thrive patch, to boost the nutrients in your diet.

2. Adjust Your Mindset

Many people who are new to fitness approach it with a self-defeating mindset. Set realistic expectations for yourself. Do not expect to go from a couch potato to an elite athlete in a few weeks. Avoid an all-or-nothing attitude. It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking if you missed one workout, you might as well just give up. Instead of beating yourself up for only taking 5,000 steps or missing a day at the gym, take the view that doing some exercise is better than doing no exercise. Focus on getting back on track, rather than dwelling on the past.

3. Be Safe

If you have any health concerns, it can be a good idea to clear your workout plans with your doctor. Be sure to warm up before you exercise and cool down afterward. This will help reduce the chance of injury and soreness. Be sure to stay hydrated, particularly if you are exercising in a hot environment, for long periods of time or at high levels of intensity. Do not try to push through pain. If something hurts, stop what you are doing.

4. Start Small

Enthusiastic new exercisers may be tempted to take on more activity than their body can handle. This can lead to burnout or injury. Set realistic, small goals and then increase the time or intensity gradually. If you have not exercised at all for years, rather than shooting for an hour a day, start with 15 to 20 minutes and then increase the duration a little every week until you reach your goal.

5. Reward Yourself

Rewarding yourself for accomplishing goals can be a much more effective way to establish a habit than punishing yourself for failing. The exercise itself should provide some rewards, such as improved sleep, more energy, and improved physical appearance. However, it can be helpful to also reward yourself with something healthy when you hit certain milestones. For example, if you complete all your planned workouts for a month, you might reward yourself with some new workout clothes.

6. Do Something You Enjoy

One of the biggest mistakes many new exercisers make is trying to force themselves to slog through workout routines they do not enjoy. Rather than doing a workout because it is the hot new fad or someone told you to try it, pick something you like to do. If walking on a treadmill is excruciatingly boring to you, try walking in the park instead. If walking isn't your thing, try swimming. If exercising just to be exercising does not work for you, consider joining a sports team or take up an active hobby, such as hiking.

Adding more exercise to your daily routine comes with many benefits. However, there are also many pitfalls new exercisers can fall into that may lead to them giving up on their new workout routine. These six tips can help you establish a safe, effective routine that you will be able to stick with.