Have I told you all that I joined the FitFluential team as an ambassador? Yes, I did! And yes, I’m pretty excited about the opportunity–what an amazing cast of fitness characters I am joining.
Part of the FitFluential mission is to spread the word about fitness, balance, nutrition, and finding your groove. As such, many of us are offering our seven favorite tips for getting started on a healthier lifestyle.
I can tell you–20 years ago this was a foreign concept to me. I was a beer chugging, out of shape college student. But over the years, as I found fitness, I found me. And that’s what I wish for anyone–to find themselves through a healthful journey. Here then, are my top seven tips for getting started on that journey:
1. Find your thing–I truly believe that once you’ve found that activity you enjoy, the rest falls into place. But you must figure out what that is. I first began exercising in a gym, doing classes and using machines. I liked getting fit, but I didn’t really enjoy the path to get there. Once I found running and triathlon, however, all that changed. Now I look forward to my workouts, almost without fail.
My thing, clearly, is running, but yours might be something else. Go find it.
2. Start slow–Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your fitness happen overnight. Jump in with both feet and you may quickly become discouraged from sore muscles, injuries, or frustration from not seeing overnight results. Make small, measurable goals and take your time achieving them.
3. Keep challenging yourself–At the same time, you need to continuously raise the bar in order to see results, keep boredom at bay, and have something to work towards. Are you now able to run 30 minutes at a stretch? Make the next run 40 minutes, and so on.
4. Don’t forget about food–All the working out in the world won’t get you to your ultimate level of fitness if you neglect nutrition. Try to move your diet in a clean, whole foods direction. Again, make small changes to start–add a new fruit or vegetable into your diet every few days. Then incorporate more healthy fats like nuts, avocados, or coconut milk. Out with the processed and in with the real foods and you’ll soon notice a difference in your energy levels.
5. Shake it up–As a runner who loves my sport, it’s easy to want to do nothing but run. But my body is better for a break here and there with activities like swimming, cycling and yoga. The more muscles you pull into use, the more well-rounded your fitness level.
6. Consider hiring a personal trainer or coach–If you’re new to an activity, having someone to provide guidance in the form of a schedule or oversight can prove invaluable. You want to train the right way, from the start, to get the most out of your time and effort.
7. Have fun with it–If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, try something new. This is your “you” time and should be something that not only gives you a physical boost, but a mental one as well.
What tips helped you start your journey to fitness?
Great tips, thanks for sharing
BDD recently posted..Weekly Ramblings – Sort Of
Oh man – this sucks! I thought if I took seven steps and seven steps only I would be fit. I guess I should have stopped reading at the headline.
Jamoosh recently posted..Lucky Number 7
You know what’s funny? Food was one of the biggest things for me. I THOUGHT I was eating well, but I saw a nutritionist right before marathon training started and she basically told me that if I didn’t eat more and better I’d be setting myself up for disaster. Yikes!
kari @ Running Ricig recently posted..bah humbugging like it’s his job
Great tips! Having fun with it is so important – and doing what you LOVE is a way to guarantee you’ll keep doing it, year after year!
well congrats again on joining the team…I’m pretty excited too! AWESOME TIPS and yes, I love your quote beneath your pic…we all MUST find our thing!!! What works for us and is fun for us, that way we all stick to it and LOVE what we do
marissa recently posted..a lot to share…
Love Jamoosh’s comment. Remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint.
Laima and I are going to be FitFluential Ambassadors as well!
Kovas recently posted..Tuesday Tasting (On a Wednesday): Clif Family Reds
I think that finding out what you truly like doing is one of the best. If you don’t like what you are doing, then chances of quiting are very high. One of the tips I used starting out especailly was to set yourself long term goals and short very attainable ones too. Thanks for the comment! Take care.
Kenley recently posted..Visualization While Running
Those are terrific tips and work for me every time although sometimes, I have to admit, I don’t look forward to my early morning workout. Why I do it is because it feels so good afterwards.
Joanne recently posted..A BLISS-ful Getaway
Great post! I know a few beginners that will really benefit from these words! And a few long-timers that would do good by reading and remembering as well. Thanks.
Jen recently posted..My Afternoon Run
Congrats on becoming a FitFluential Ambassador! I hope to soon join the ranks of some great athletes that inspire ME, such as you!
These tips are awesome! I love and can relate to every single one. Thank you somuch for sharing your thoughts.
Sara recently posted..Dec 12 Ohio State Report for Pace Per Mile Radio
Congrats!
This is great and I can truly relate to each of these steps in my own weight loss / running journey. It really resonates with me!
Jen recently posted..Ironman and other television shows that are good for you
Proud to have you as a teammate! Well stated Amanda!!
Jess @ Blonde Ponytail recently posted..SUPER indulgent…caramel and chocolate.
Great post! I have struggled with all of these issues at one point or the other. But my most challenging right now is food. That is my goal for 2012 to really concentrate on healthy eating. But where to start???
Congrats on FitFluential Ambassador! That is Awesome.
Kittee recently posted..Wordless Wednesday
All those tips are great! It also helps me to keep track of my workouts and progress. To look back over the years is helpful especially when your having a “bad run”. The Dailey Mile and tons of apps to help. Congrats! Your awesome for FitFluential!
Couldn’t have put it better myself, great set of tips. Unfortunately I didn’t ‘find my thing’ (running) until I was 54 years old since when I’ve done all the other things you mention – with the exception of hiring a Personal Trainer. I may have started late but quickly made up for lost time and am still going strong 25 years later. It’s the best discovery I ever made!
Runningfox recently posted..Getting in the mood for Christmas
Great post! I love that you added cross training… i was only running for years and kept getting injured, but since adding in more variety, and especially weights, I’ve been much healthier.
Laura recently posted..One of those days
#fitflutential are getting ALL my favourites as ambassadors! Love this post, great tips!!
adena recently posted..Kona Race Report
Congrats on joining an inspiring team of FitFluential Ambassadors! Great tips here.
marlene recently posted..Winner & WIAW
You will make a great ambassador for fitness! congrats.
Great tips. I like that # 1 tip. I do think it is key to everything else being a little ibt easier.
My tip. Make it a habit. Make it something that your day is not complete without. Like brushing your teeth or that morning cup of coffee. You know you won’t die without those things but it’s few and far between when you let a day go by without them. Simply make being purposefully active ( “exercise” can be such a “bad” word to some) one of those things!
shelly recently posted..Dreams of Burning Ink
Nicely stated.
I always tell women not to be so hard on themselves. Do what you can do for that day and move on, tomorrow is a new day. Also never compare yourself to others, everyone is at a different part of their journey.
Missy recently posted..New shoes and frighting news
Great steps, even for those of us who have been on that path for quite a while now! Congrats on becoming an ambassador!
Candice recently posted..The (Runner’s) Christmas Song
#2 is key,
It was for me and I tell all my friends who want to start getting in shape to start slow
not always an easy thing to do!!
Caroline recently posted..LA Holiday Half Marathon Race Recap
Very cool. I agree with your entire list…brilliant! Jessica
runningtobeskinny.com
“4″ is so incredibly important, nothing is worse than putting in tons of effort and still not getting where you want to be because of diet. Been there, done that.
If you can’t find/afford/aren’t ready for a coach try and find a mentor. Yes easier said than done but i was lucky enough to meet people who had a profound affect on me early on. I, for one, look forward for the chance to pay it forward.
Patrick recently posted..Solving Problems
Great tips! I agree with every one of those. Another great tip, I think, is to find a workout buddy. It helps to have someone hold you accountable. This doesn’t work for everybody and not everyone can find a buddy, but I think it’s beneficial for a lot of people just getting started.
Kate @ Run with Kate recently posted..Ryan Hall’s Old Stomping Grounds
i found it took me a while to make exercise part of my lifestyle but i did it. for me i need a goal or challenge, usually a race to train for. the harder part for me is the nutrition….i need to be better and not fall back so many times. part of that is needing to be prepared, i think if i was prepared i do ok, but once i am not….it goes to pot.
feener recently posted..burn
love that you said coach or trainer! that true accountability right when you need it, eh?!
lindsay recently posted..What I’m Noticing Wednesday
Figuring out that I was not being a healthy role model for my young kids- seeing them eating the crap I was and not eating very much/ any healthy foods.
RunningMoose recently posted..PT Day two and some Elliptical!
Awesome tips!!
Mandy recently posted..Wagging Wednesday – Lucky Number 7
That’s so awesome! You are perfect for FitFluential!
The Green Girl recently posted..The Green Girl Visits The Zombie Apocalypse Store
Get dressed and out the door….(for run,swim, bike, lifting, yoga, whatever) and I bet it will get done.
Great tips!
I finally bit the bullet and became an Ambassador too! : )
Teamarcia recently posted..Stress Less/Weigh-In Wednesday: Late Edition
Congrats on FitFluential! I totally agree that you need to find what you love. If someone told me Zumba was the only way to stay fit I don’t think I would ever exercise! When you love it, you want to do it.
Katie@Will Race for Carbs recently posted..Things- The December Edition
These are some great tips! Taking it slow is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately (about running, training and life in general) and something I plan to incorporate into my 2012 plans.
Laura recently posted..Don’t cry over spilled milk
Great tips, I love a lot the #7.
I began to run because I was out of shape.
Black Knight recently posted..Another broken dream