Getting Started
Getting started on a workout or eating regimen can feel daunting. There are literally thousands out there and many will work for your goals. It's ok to be confused and not know where to start. It's ok to start a plan and not like it. Not every plan is ideal for everyone because everyone has different schedules and needs.
In my fitness journey I’ve done at least a dozen or so different workout methods and plans. I finally have settled on a plan that fits my schedule and needs but this will likely need to be re-evaluated soon.
It's important to first know what your goal is first before looking or creating a plan for yourself. If you are having a crazy work schedule and can only dedicate an hour per day on the weekends for a workout, then an upper/lower split four days a week plus a cardio day will likely fail for your needs.
Next we need to find out what your goal is. Is your goal to run a 5k, walk to the local school to meet your kids each day, maybe bench 180 lb? Your goal may be to “lose weight” and while an excellent goal, you may want to consider why that is your goal. For example, I had a goal of becoming a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and in order to do that I had to not only dedicate quite a bit of time learning the techniques and patterns required for testing, but there was a physical fitness test that was required as well. 40 push ups in two minutes, 40 sit ups in two minutes and a mile run. In addition we had to hold a horseback riding stance for 15 minutes (think of sitting in a chair without the chair). Come testing day I had everything in the bag and failed at the 15 minute riding stance. I was ineligible to participate in the final test. I needed to break down my goal to bite sized parts.
Obtain a black belt:
1. Be able to do 40 push ups
2. Be able to do 40 sit ups
3. Be able to run 1 mile
4. Be able to do a 15 minute horseback riding stance
5. Know the techniques and patterns required for testing
Breaking down my goal in this way allowed me to focus on the parts of my goal that needed work and dedicate more time to those sub-goals. Not every goal may need this breakdown but writing it out and thinking about what steps are needed will help solidify the goal in your mind and allow you to focus on what parts are needed and what isn’t needed to achieve the goal. Keeping a record of the goal in a place that you frequent (phone, workout log, door/wall) will help in reminding you of what to work on.
Does your goal require specialized equipment or do you only need a pair of shoes? If your goal is to bench 180 lbs, do you have a bench press set up at home already? Do you have access to the equipment at a gym or other exercise facility? If those aren’t an option you may need to purchase the equipment for home use.
Getting started is scary, but we do it every day, you may not realize it. Our body and minds reward us for starting. Failing sucks, it hurts physically and emotionally. As a self described nerd I’m constantly in my head, and I beat myself up for failing. I also beat myself up for NOT starting. So, if I’m gonna beat myself up anyways, I’d rather fail. The trick I use is to reward? myself for failing. Failing teaches you things, it teaches you what to do better. What worked, what didn’t work. Samuel Beckett says it perfectly:
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
So, you beautiful person, get started. Fail, fail beautifully because it hurts, because you’ll learn, because you’ll get better. And when you pick yourself back up you’re stronger for it.
I believe in you.
What do you want to level up?