Starting an exercise program can be intimidating and challenging to know where to start. The same is true even if you were consistent with your exercise routine and you took a few months off. It is hard to get on track and consistent with your fitness journey because it takes a
lot of effort. However, once you are on a consistent and effective program, it is hard to stop once you start seeing results! Whether you are brand new to fitness, need to get back on track after a few months off, or just trying to get ahead of the New-Years-Resolutioners at the gym (always a good idea), here are 5 ways to jumpstart your fitness journey.

First and foremost you need to have a vision with goals. If you are not working towards something you will feel as if you are wasting time and energy. Goals consistently remind you of your “ why” and what you are putting our effort towards. Without goals in mind, fitness can
become very redundant. When you have your eyes on the prize you will start to fall in love with the process. Once you begin seeing results that are going towards the goals you set, you will trust the process and fall in love with it. Not everyone wants to do every workout, but everyone loves how they feel after. The only workout you’ll regret is the one you did not do! In fitness, consistency is key. When starting an exercise program, start small. Set small activity goals for yourself such as a thirty minute walk a day. Even if you can’t do seven days in
a particular week, having that goal will force you to at least get two to three days of walking. If you already have a gym membership, a good small goal to start with is getting to the gym two days per week. The more you go, the more comfortable you will get and your weekly activity will increase. If you set yourself up with unrealistic activity goals, you could end up letting yourself down and giving up, which is the only way not to be successful.

The next step in jumpstarting your fitness journey is tracking. Start with tracking the food you are eating on a daily basis. This can be done through various apps or with pen and paper. Make note of the amount of calories, carbs, fats, and proteins you are consuming. This will allow
you to see where you are currently making mistakes and which areas of your diet need to be improved so you can be the best version of yourself. An easy way to start improving your nutrition is by drinking more water. Make sure to track how much water you are consuming and also take into consideration any liquid calories you are consuming that could be stopping you from reaching your fitness goals. You also want to track your progress. In order to do this you will need a baseline starting weight and body fat percentage. Then after 2-4 weeks of dietary and activity changes, see how far you’ve come. This will show you if your new lifestyle is working for you or if there are things you need to change.

If you try all of these and still are struggling to stay consistent and achieve your fitness goals, it’s time to ask for help. Seeking out a personal trainer is a great way to motivate yourself but also keep you accountable. As crazy as it sounds, humans are more likely to let themselves
down rather than somebody else. A trainer will also be able to give you a better understanding of movements and exercises so that you know exactly how to do them but also the reason behind making them a staple in your personalized program. Trainers also help outside of the
gym. While trainers cannot prescribe you a dietary plan, they are able to give you insight on the foods you should be eating and why. If you find yourself starting and stopping fitness programs, a personal trainer is the solution to your problem. Start today and stay consistent for the rest of your life!