How to find your path to getting fit
The hardest part of a fitness journey is actually getting started. Where to start? How to start? Which gym, bootcamp or fitness program to join? There are so many choices, it can feel overwhelming.
Redefining ‘Fit’
The first step should be to define what you mean by ‘fit’ or rather, redefining what you’ve come to believe it to mean from what you see day in, day out on the internet.
‘Fit’ doesn’t have to mean having a muscular physique like a lot of the fitness models you see on social media. They can be great inspiration but you don’t have to feel pressured into believing you need to look like them.
For me, ‘fit’ means being able to do things at 53 that I couldn’t do at 43! For my clients, ‘fit’ can mean being able to get out of bed, a chair or up off the floor without feeling sore. Being able to spend longer in the garden without needing to take breaks. Being able to do normal daily tasks without losing balance.
You can define ‘fit’ to mean whatever you want it to be.
You’re NOT Unfit
A good reason to redefine ‘fit’ is that a lot of things have changed, mainly us.
Most people tell me they feel heavy and unfit when they come to see me. If this sounds like you then I want you to know that you haven’t become lazy and you don’t need to join a gym or go on a diet.
It’s more likely that you’re not moving enough but it’s not your fault!
We’re moving less than ever before and technology has evolved to make us move even less. The pandemic has accelerated a lot of this, making it easier for us to:
- Work from home
- Get the grocery shopping delivered
- Get any kind of food delivered at any time of the day
Our bodies are stiffening up as a result. This means reaching the level of fitness society perceives ‘fit’ should be will be a lot harder and take a lot longer than the timescales we’re being sold on in online fitness programs.
Start Where You Are
The best way to start is from where you are right now. Embrace the level of fitness you’re starting from rather than feel embarrassed by it. Everyone feels unfit when they start, like they’re starting from square one. That’s ok. Use this feeling as your fuel to get better.
Do something you enjoy, feels like a lot of fun and you want to do more of, just like how playing felt when you were a kid. This can be as simple as dancing around the house listening to your favourite music when you’re getting ready for work.
Make some time each day to go for a walk outdoors. If you can, get into nature or do that at the weekend if you can’t do it each day. A walk into green space or by a river/lake can change the way you feel.
This is a great starting point to which you can build from.
How To Start
The easy way to get started is to think of the difference you want to feel in yourself in the next 4 weeks. This is a goal that’s truly yours and is easy to go after. Achieving this will not only make you feel fitter, your confidence will grow and you’ll feel like you can do anything.
And you can!
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Hi, I’m Steve and I became a Personal Trainer as I wanted to help people do things they previously didn’t believe were possible for them. Back pain inspired me to begin my fitness journey and did so by running a marathon. Doing something I didn’t think I could inspired me to help others do the same.
