Getting Back in Shape Before Summer | Guest Post

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Getting Back in Shape Before Summer

Whether you want to come back from a gap in your workout routine or start exercising for the first time, trying to get in shape before summer can be overwhelming. People experience a variety of challenges when trying to work out more often, and it’s easy to get discouraged if you don’t see immediate progress.

Fortunately, a few months is more than enough time to get your body into exercise shape and ready to look good throughout the summer. These tips will help you get started with a new workout routine that suits your lifestyle and can get you where you want to be by the time summer starts.

Make Gradual Progress

We all want to be able to transform our bodies overnight, but the truth is that it takes the human body time to acclimate to regular exercise. Most people will notice changes within about six to eight weeks, although it may take closer to three or four months to feel completely in shape.

Since your body isn’t immediately prepared for more strenuous exercise, it’s important to start out with something manageable that doesn’t put too much strain on your body. There are a variety of workout routines designed for beginners who want to take gradual steps toward their goals.

Set Goals

Measurable, reasonable short and long term goals are a great way to stay motivated through the process of improving your cardio. You can also promise yourself rewards at each step so that you have something to work toward on those days where you’d rather stay home.

There are a variety of applications designed to help users manage their workout goals and track their progress over time. Whatever works best for you, it’s important to monitor how you’re doing and keep track of each time you exercise. Many of these programs also offer features to help manage your diet.

Take Rest Days

When you first start out, your instinct may be to power through soreness and pain after a strenuous workout, but it’s important to remember that your body needs rest. This is especially true if you’re just getting back into working out.

If you feel sore for more than a day or two after working out, you may be overexerting yourself. Consider dialling things back until you’ve built up more strength and cardio, and add an extra rest day if necessary to give your body the time it needs to recuperate from a tough workout.

Working out can have a wide range of benefits on your physical and mental health, but it can be tough to build up and maintain your motivation over time. These tips will help you establish a workout routine that works for you and stick to it throughout the spring in order to be prepared for summer.

Contributed by BetterPT