Yes, you read that right. I’ve worked out every single day since April 4, 2018 and if you told me that two years ago I would have laughed.
For most of high school I had a complicated relationship with exercise: I knew it was healthy for me but never felt quite motivated enough to fulfill that longing.
That is until I found Peloton: the newest and (in my opinion) best fitness company out there. The program brought cycling, running, walking, bootcamp, strength, stretching, yoga and mindfulness classes into my life a little over two years ago and finally motivated me to exercise – to the point where it’s now a part of my daily life.
1. Find a program that works for you
On that note, the first step in your fitness journey begins with finding the right program for you. Apps like Peloton Digital, 7 Minute Workout, Aaptiv or Sweat by Kayla Itsines Fitness bring the convenience to your phone while daily Fitbit challenges keep you in competition with your friends. Take advantage of local classes offered around you at gyms and fitness studios. Pick a program that fits you and set a weekly goal. Twice a week? Three times a week? If you haven’t worked out in months, start with two or three days a week or whatever feels comfortable. Trust your gut and be honest with how you’re feeling – if you’ve got more in you, go for it!
2. Record your progress
Once you’ve decided on a program, keeping yourself accountable and consistent can be incredibly difficult. Some days the last thing you want to do is get on the treadmill, but knowing you’re keeping a record of your work can give you the final encouragement to put the effort in. Keep a journal where you can jot down your completed exercise. Seeing your progress and successes will only motivate you to keep going! Scheduling your dedicated time for exercise will also ensure you get the work done.
The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (walking, yoga, jogging) or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise (running, cycling, swimming, HIIT classes). So set up your schedule to reach these goals, but again, at your own best effort. If 75 minutes of vigorous activity is unattainable, modify your goals for you.
3. Take days off to recover
Finally, recovery days are a necessity! For my schedule, those days are when I do a core strengthening class paired with stretching. For you, those days could be simply a day without exercise or focusing on stretching or foam rolling.