7 proven tips to work out consistently, even as a beginner.
In the last 365 days, I’ve worked out for 1432 minutes (approx. 1 day)
A small ratio but a few years ago, I couldn’t do a single push-up.
If you want to start working out or you have even started but struggling to stay consistent, these seven tips might help.
1. This is not a sprint
Fitness is a lifestyle, not some 12-week program you get into and expect results straight away.
As a beginner, rushing things would only wear you down and you’d find it hard to stick with your decision to get in shape.
Working out for only 5 minutes every day puts you ahead of 75% of the population.
2. Time and location
When and where you work out is up to you and they can be tweaked to fit into your schedule.
Consistency, however, is easier if you can have a fixed time and place for your sessions.
Try to choose an easily accessed location too. I don’t recommend gym for starters but if you must use a gym, don’t register at a gym far away from home.
The thought of getting prepared and transporting yourself down there would put you off later on. Stick to closer gyms or even your gardens for now.
3. Tie a fun activity to your session
I usually have my sessions between 7.30 PM and 8.30 PM, so I delay dinner until I’m done to trick myself into putting enough energy into it because why not, food is waiting for you :)
In my case, dinner is the “fun activity”. Yours could be an episode of your favourite show, a drink or a game with the boys.
Just choose something you’d always want to do ordinarily. It works.
4. Don’t look in the mirror
You started working out 3 weeks ago and you’re worried your abs are not visible.
An effective way to kill your enthusiasm to work out is by monitoring your progress by what you see in the mirror. You’d be disappointed.
I noticed my first line of abs after 5 months I started doing crunches.
5. Get a serious partner / do it alone
If you know anyone as invested as you are in the game and he’s not far behind/ahead, make him a partner.
Challenging and motivating each other leads to consistency and better results.
And if you can’t, do it alone.
You don’t want someone who will make you look like you’re doing too much, they will drain your energy.
Two *like-minded* heads are better than one.
6. The journey is not going to be linear
I may have worked out for 23.9 hours in the last year but the days that contributed 90% of the hours are not up to 150 out of 365.
On some days, it would be only 2 sets of 15 push-ups. I even have weeks I didn’t do anything. Here is how I deal with this.
When you experience the same, think of it as part of the process. Going for a walk counts as an exercise, and it is my go-to choice when I’m on low energy.
7. Rest
Don’t be the guy who does intensive routines 7 times a week. You will break down and it would be so bad, that you will hate the whole idea of working out.
Rest is a part of the puzzle, an important one at that.
3X a week is good for you as a starter. You have 4 days to rest, do just that.
If you found this interesting and learnt a thing or two, consider following me here on medium and Twitter.
Thank you for your time.
- Ezekiel, Self Dev.
