It’s never too late to start working out and getting fit – no matter what stage of life you’re in. But if you’re a beginner to the process, then it might feel a bit daunting. Everyone is different. And therefore one routine and diet that works for some, may not work the same for others.
It’s therefore important to determine exactly what works for you from the get-go. But how do you do this? To help guide you in the right direction, here are 15 simple health and fitness tips that all beginners can use:
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You Don’t Always Have to Workout In The Gym
Firstly, it’s essential to realise that you don’t have to go to the gym to workout effectively. We now live in a world that’s full of extraordinary technology – allowing you to exercise from the comfort of your own home.
Something that is particularly useful during this time, you can do pretty much whatever sport you want without having to pay out on expensive gym or leisure centre fees. From soothing yoga stretches to high-intensity cardio workouts, the possibilities are now endless.
Of course, if you want to exercise away from your home, you can do this too by heading out for a walk, jog or run in the countryside. In this country, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the amount of routes that you can take – no matter where you’re living.
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Set Goals That Work For You
As mentioned above, it’s vital that you set goals that work for you and you alone. Something that you can do at the start of the process, you can list how often you’ll exercise, what your weekly diet looks like, etc.
As part of this process (and if you need some extra motivation and focus when working out) you may also want to look into supplements; such as that offered by muscle rage. By laying out specific goals, you’ll have something to focus on – which is vital for success. Without doing this, you’ll soon feel as though you don’t have the energy or you lack the motivation to do it.
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Accept That Every day Won’t be Great
Ok, so even though you may strive to reach your goals, you also need to cut yourself some slack. Every day won’t be filled with intense workouts or a very healthy diet – you’re only human after all. So it’s essential that from the start of the process, you realise that this will inevitably be what happens. And when you do stick to your goals, then you can celebrate the small wins.
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Stay Hydrated
Another helpful tip that you can use to help maintain your health and fitness is to stay hydrated each day. When doing this, however, it’s a good idea to avoid drinks that will only dehydrate you – such as coffee or alcohol. But by drinking plenty of water a day, you’ll feel more energetic and ready to exercise.
Water is key to your health and fitness – and therefore it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored. It also helps to increase brain function and focus – unlike diuretic drinks.
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Try Different Exercises
As a beginner, you might not know which type of exercise suits you. Therefore, it’s worth trying a variety of different types before settling on the best one for you.
However, if you find that you enjoy various exercises, this is good too! As many studies have found that a combination of exercises actually helps to increase the number of calories you burn.
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Avoid Excess
To try and stay as healthy as possible throughout the years, it’s sensible to try and avoid excessive drinking, both in terms of alcohol and caffeine. Alongside this, if you want to maintain a healthy weight, try not to overdo it with unhealthy foods – such as takeaways or sweets/chocolate.
During the pandemic this might be easier said than done – there’s no denying that. But if you’re looking to be physically healthier in the long term, then it’s important to try and do this. By doing this, you’ll also feel less sluggish and more energetic – two benefits that anyone would revel in.
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Track Your Eating and Exercising
To ensure that you’re maintaining your exercise routine and healthy eating, it might benefit you to track them each day. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that are out there that can do this for you, showcasing the areas in which you can improve in the future. An example of one, that’s used by millions of people around the world is MyFitnessPal.
Simple and easy to use, you’ll be able to attain your goals. You can also showcase your progress to friends and family if you want to with the click of a button.
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Treat Yourself to Rest Days
Following on from point three, although it’s undeniably important to try and maintain your fitness routine, it’s also vital that you treat yourself to rest days every now and again. These ‘chill out’ days will ensure that your body has time to heal and unwind, so that you feel more ready to workout again when it comes time to.
You don’t want to suffer from a burnout or injury because you pushed yourself too hard at the beginning. So listen to your body and adjust your routine as need be so that it aligns with what it needs.
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Focus on Your Sleeping Pattern
A key part of retaining your mental and physical health is focusing on your sleeping pattern every day. As without a substantial amount of sleep each night, your body and mind will start to suffer from it. Having a good routine, whether it be going to sleep early or waking up a little later each day will be very beneficial in the long term.
There’s nothing quite like waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready for whatever the day brings. And with a good amount of sleep every night (on average it’s recommended that you should be getting at least 8 hours a night) you’ll feel exactly this way in no time at all.
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Find a Motivational Exercise Buddy
Another way of keeping up your motivation is to start exercising and working out with a friend each day instead of doing it alone. This way, even when you’re not feeling in the mood to either eat healthily or head out for a jog you’ll be convinced into doing it. Having someone nearby that has the same goals as you is a key factor to success.
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Start Slow
As you’re a beginner in the world of health and fitness it’s essential that you don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Start slow and try and increase the amount of workouts that you’re doing over time. As aforementioned, you don’t want to injure yourself just because you had a goal in sight.
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Take Away The Distractions
When you’re trying to exercise, it’s a good idea to try and shut off the outside world. This means not checking your phone every five minutes – as tempting as it might be, whether it be to check social media or to message friends. By doing this, you’ll get a lot more accomplished.
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Try to Meal Prep
This might sound like an obvious one, but it’s still worth a mention – especially for those who don’t know. Meal prepping and is a great way of ensuring that you’re eating healthily each day – and that your portion sizes aren’t more than they should be. Plus, by prepping you’ll be able to make a selection of delicious foods, instead of rushing to make a sandwich in the morning before you head out.
But if you struggle to cook a healthy meal, you can opt to a Prepared Meal Delivery that offers a variety of dishes and cuisines that are healthy and delicious.
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Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Ok, so this might sound easier said than done but throughout the process, it’s vital that you don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone’s fitness and health journey is unique. Therefore, it’s not fair to compare your progress to other people – especially if they have been working out/eating healthily for several years before you.
Yes, you can of course use them for inspiration. But it’s worth looking at your journey and seeing how you personally can improve so that it aligns with your goals.
- Seek Professional Guidance
Whilst it’s undeniably beneficial to conduct your own research into various tips and tricks, if you’re looking for further guidance then it’s a good idea to seek professional guidance – whether that be from a nutritionist or personal trainer.
Of course, with these, you’ll usually have to pay out for their services. But they can prove to be very useful if you’re looking for long term results when they are paired with the above advice.
Final Thoughts
So, there you go! Those are 15 simple health and fitness tips that you can use when at the start of your journey. Of course, what you decide to do is up to you. But by following this advice, along with conducting your own research you’ll be on the path to a healthy and happy future.
