Part 2 – You Want To Exercise – Now Where to Begin?

Continued from Part 1…

Skip the details, focus on the big picture.

In the beginning, most people give up and never get going with their new routine.

Clear advice is tough to come by in the fitness industry. It appears that everyone has a different way of doing things and they are all convinced that their way is the best way.

It’s easy to get frustrated over the details of a new workout routine. How many sets should I do? How many reps in each set? Each program or website will give a different opinion. Which one is right?

Relax. Don’t Get Frustrated.

Now, repeat this to yourself several times. Details don’t matter in the beginning.

You’ll figure out technique, rest periods, training schedules, reps, etc. as you go along. The only thing that matters is getting started. Just stick to a schedule, and the details will fall into place.

Start off Slowly.

It’s great to have motivation to start a new routine, but it can be a double–edged sword.

This is because motivation changes. It isn’t consistent so you can’t rely on it. You’re not always going to be super motivated. Build good habits instead of getting motivated. Don’t tackle more than you can reasonably handle.

In the beginning, the goal is to get in the habit of working out, not doing intense workouts. Your workouts should be easy for the first 3-4 weeks. Stick to the schedule and become disciplined to completing each workout. Performance doesn’t matter at this stage.

Don’t skip workouts.

Things happen in life that will derail your workout schedule. Your schedule will change, you’ll take vacations, get sick, etc. However, you need to have a system to make it as easy as possible to get back on track. When you’re just getting started with a new workout routine, this is very important.

Sticking to scheduled workouts, even if they are short, has excellent benefits due to the cumulative effects.

Choose an Exercise and Go With It

Here are some great exercises to choose from when getting started.

Squats

Pullups

Bicep curls

Bench Press

Pushups

Sprints

Pick one that interests you and get going.

Again, don’t worry about the details in the beginning. Start off slowly and don’t miss workouts.