Categories: Fitness

10 Tips For Those Just Starting To Get Into Shape

If you’re anything like me, creating a viable fitness routine can be challenging. In a modern age of easily accessible fitness apps, clean eating recipes, and work out videos, it can be hard to not feel overwhelmed. There is so much information readily available for anyone looking to start establishing a healthier lifestyle to get in better shape. Here are some tips to help you start living your best life!

1. Establish an everyday routine.

It’s definitely a struggle figuring out where to start when trying to transition into healthy living. By giving yourself an established routine or schedule, it can keep you on track with workouts and meals. The trick to getting into shape is setting a nice morning routine. The first steps for shaping up is setting an hour for yourself before the start your day. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and crack open a book or relax with a nutritious breakfast. Giving yourself time to unwind and prepare for your day is so important for your overall health by mentally decompressing. At the end of your hour, make a list of workouts you would like to try and plan your meals. Imagine the ideal road you would like to make for your fitness journey. While deciding which parts of your body you would like to work on, research which exercises work best for you. It makes a significant difference when you have an understanding of what you would like to focus on both in your active routine and in your kitchen routine. There are a multitude of fitness apps and online websites that provide healthy and delicious recipes that are amazing to try and incorporate into your kitchen. By giving yourself a set daily morning routine it becomes a healthy habit!

2. Understand your body type.

One of the key elements into shaping up is understanding your body type. Each body type has a specific set of needs that need to be met that are different from the others. This is why what can work for your best friend most likely will not work as well for you. Once you figure this out, finding what works best for yourself will improve your ability to shape up tremendously. Every body type is beautiful and unique in its won way, and requires a separate set of focuses. There are three different body types you need to identify before establishing a fitness routine: ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. An ectomorph is naturally longer limbed and lean. Typically with a faster metabolism with little muscle mass. Ectomorphs struggle with gaining muscle which is key for wanting to tone up. Due to lighter muscle mass, the recommended training method would be to focus on resistance retaining to help build your muscle strength and strengthen your body for higher endurance. Pair this with a diet filled with healthy fats and high amounts of protein. This is vastly different from an endomorph, which is a larger build. Bodies in the endomorph category tend to have a broader bone structure, are on the shorter side with a curvier, fuller bold with the ability to store fat easily due to a slower metabolism. While ectomorphs struggle to gain weight, endomorphs experience difficulty losing weight and toning up. A key aspect to shaping up as an endomorph is focusing on high-intensity workouts  for fat loss and gaining muscle. Maintaining a diet of fewer carbs and eating healthy fats and protein is a great way to feed your body the fuel it needs. Incorporate your cars from veggies and fruits to help balance out your diet. Under eating is never recommended for any body type, so it’s crucial to keep your body fueled with all the nutrients it needs; it your shape and impact your process. Lastly, the best of both worlds, a mesomorph is a mixture of ectomorph and endomorph qualities. Mesomorphs can gain and lose weight quickly, and build muscle easily. Their bodies usually have longer torsos with shorter limbs. Since they gain muscle easily, most athletes body types are mesomorphs. Due to a fast metabolism, high muscle build, and ability to lose and gain weight quickly, it is important to focus on maintaining a healthy muscle mass. Focus on building endurance for muscle, while doing high intensity work outs. You can build strength, tone muscle, and experience fat loss. A balanced diet of healthy fats, proteins, and complex carbs are recommended. Mesomorphs can handle higher amounts of complex carbs than an endomorph. By understanding your body type and applying both diet and exercise routines best for you will ensure best quality results for getting into shape.

3. Strengthen your core.

A strong core is a strong body. It is what helps keep your body healthy and prepared to take on challenging workouts. When starting to work out try endurance and muscle building training to create a strong core. Start light and you’ll see how reliant every exercise is utilized through your core. It’s important to focus on that first before attempting any more difficult workouts. This helps keep your body healthy without injury. Many people when starting to get into shape ignore this and end up injuring themselves during their workouts because there was not any focus on their core. Core muscles work together to protect your spine from challenging weight loads, and to keep your strength up during high-intensity training. It is the powerhouse of your exercises shifting energy from your lower body to your upper body. Without a stable core, injuries can occur which can set back your journey. Work at your best and build your muscle endurance for a strong body!

4. Transform your diet and stay hydrated.

When trying to get into shape, there is more work to it than simply working out. Half the effort is in the kitchen. Unfortunately, a diet willed with fries and ice cream ism’t ideal for trying to get into shape. Fill your kitchen with cleaner foods such as yummy fruits and veggies. Invest in a reusable water bottle to help stay hydrated throughout the day. When working out your body dehydrates and you lose water, so it’s important to replenish yourself. The internet is abundant with clean eating recipes and ideas for living healthier. When pairing your workouts with a clean diet, you will see results. Keep your body filled with the best nutrition possible to rebuild muscle and provide fuel. Starting healthy kitchen habits will lead to overall body health and maintain a positive mindset. You will see your natural energy levels rise and your body fill feel more alert. The sluggish feeling when not eating well will dissipate, and you will be more prepared to take on a day full of exercise. Not only is a balanced diet good for your overall physical health, but for your mental health as well. All the nutrients necessary for proper brain function will be utilized which will help you look forward to your next workout!

5. Identify your fitness goals.

After realizing your body type, identify which parts of your body you would like to work on. Whether that be strengthening your core, perking up your booty, or gaining rock hard abs, target which parts you want to get into shape. That also includes diet changes, such s switching from soda to sparkling water. Create a schedule of your workouts and know your body’s limits. Rest days are important to let your body reset itself and take a day break to recover from your previous workouts. Go according to your body type and see which workouts will best be utilized by your body. Understanding the difference between how to gain muscle and tone muscle will also assist i knowing the amount of reps of each exercise to do and the amount of eight to use with each exercise. Maintaining a clear head and focus on your goals will continue to staying motivated. Going by a schedule of each part of your body you would like to exercise, it will create a routine which will be easily followed the longer you work at it. Identifying your goals and visualizing your success will help keep you going!

6. Get enough sleep.

The average human requires seven to nine hours a night of sleep. When getting into shape and spending large amounts of energy on exercise, your body will require all the sleep it can acquire to fulfill your health goals. Sleep is crucial because it gives your body time to build and repair muscle, and rest to prepare for your next workout, and maintain energy. When we do not receive the proper amounts of sleep, our systems slow down impacting energy and hormone levels in our bodies required to get in shape. The more active lifestyle, the more energy being used, thus needing longer amounts of sleep. Give your body the amount of time it needs to repair itself for more challenging exercises. Sleep builds up your strength so you gain endurance and have higher stamina. A good habit to starr when fatten into shape and sticking to routine is creating a set bedtime and wake up time. Ensure yourself you will be getting the proper amount you need to start your day. Your body clock will reset itself to your set schedule which will contribute to staying on the right path to achieving your fitness goals.

7. Understand fitness is a process. It is a marathon, not a sprint.

The wrong habit to get into is weighing or measuring yourself everyday after a workout or eating. Everyone’s body works differently, so don’t feel discouraged if after a week you see slight  to no adjustment at all to your physique or if the number on the scale has barely gone down. Fitness is about living a healthier life for YOU. It is about thriving in a lifestyle that makes you feel confident within yourself, and thrilled about loving yourself. It is a daily choice to switch to a healthier lifestyle to get into shape and be proud of your progress! Go at your own pace and you deserve to give yourself a pat on the back for your efforts.

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8. Don’t give into fad, trendy diets and supplements promoted by influencers on social media.

It’s hard to scroll through Instagram and not compare your body to an influencer’s post with hundreds of thousands of likes. These influencers are also guilty of promoting unhealthy fitness habits. Each of their posts are promoting a variety of products guaranteed to slim your waistline down, and drop the number on a scale. There are multiple Instagram pages filled with tips and recipe ideas for different diet lifestyles such as keto and paleo. While these diet fads have worked for groups of people, it is not necessarily healthy for every body type. Diets and weight loss supplements all endorsed by social media influencers showing products that endorse speedy weight lost instead of traditional clean eating and exercise. While these dies and produces work, they can cause eight gain just as fast as the weight loss. Many of these diets and products work, they all cause weight gain just as fast as weight loss. Many of these methods are also not approved by the FDA which can impact your health. Bot oy only are fads shown to not work properly, but they are expensive and often come with a subscription system. On the diet side, keto and paleo are also proven to be effective,  but also cause side effects and at times malnutrition because the diets hinder an individual from eating certain foods. While social media influencers may have amazing, toned, and beautiful bodies, the majority of them do not use the products they endorse. They follow traditional routes of healthy eating and exercise, so be aware when you see these postings on Instagram!

9. Make a diary full of before-and-after pictures, recipes, workout plans, and body measurements.

Tracking your progress to look back later is the most rewarding asper of getting into shape. At the start of your fitness journey, log your weight, body measurements, and fitness foals. Write down the reasons why YOU chose to get into shape and the work you’re willing to put in. Over the course of the next few weeks and following months, log your entries of your meals and the different exercises you have done. Maintaining a log helps keep accountability for yourself, and as motivation. Look at your previous entires to see your efforts. and feel the excitement of seeing your hard work pay off! Try to go sixty days, and month by month keep your diary updated. You’ll be able to see your transformation before your eyes through your pictures and measurements. Use a reward system. For every goal you reach treat yourself to a new outfit, a massage, or mani-pedi to keep your self encouragement. Getting into shape is not easy, but keeping a dairy with a reward system will help keep your progress and motivation on track!

10. Make your workouts fun.

Go on a hike with friends, find a gym buddy, or run with your dog! Working out repeatedly with the same weight exercises and cardio can lower morale. Integrating fun exercises into your workouts boost your energy and motivation. Plan a fun hike in a beautiful area with a great view with your friend. Pack up some waters and hit the road. Or, if you prefer an indoor environment with air conditioning, bring a feint to the gym. Working out with company builds confidence and ensures you will workout. They can be a personal cheerleader when you don’t feel you can complete an extra mile or finish your set of weights. If your friends aren’t available to join you in your exercise routine, leash up your dog and bring them with you! Take on the heat and walk around your neighborhood, trail at the beach, or a relaxing shady park.

Exercise can be fun when it’s not a repetitive, monotonous cycle of exercises so don’t be afraid to change up your routine!

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Jordan Lopez

Hi, my name is Jordan! I am an Orange County-based writer after moving back from San Diego. I currently work in editorial for an independent boutique publisher, and I love what I do! I have a huge passion for traveling and consider it one of my main hobbies–when not in COVID, of course. When I am not planning my next trip, I spend time with friends and family, visiting the beach, brunching on the weekends, binging my favorite TV shows and movies, or catching up on a good book.

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