Get back into shape as the country continues to reopen
Did you ditch your well-crafted exercise routine and gym membership for binge-watching and food delivery during the pandemic? If you didn’t have a Peloton bike in your apartment during the lockdown, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
The American Psychological Association surveyed more than 3,000 people about the pandemic. It found that 42 percent had gained weight. The average gain was 29 pounds. With COVID restrictions lifted and gyms reopening, now is a great time to get back to the workout.
Here are some tips on how to become physically active again without overdoing it:
1 – Set your goals
If you let your fitness slip, you can’t expect to run a half marathon or even lift the same amount of weight right away. It’s going to take some time to get back to where you were. The best way is to set goals.
Like SMART goals, you want to set goals that you can measure and are realistic. Then, as you gradually get more fit, you can start to tackle more challenging goals. Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was your fitness routine. But just doing something will have a positive impact on your body and mind.
2 – Stick to the schedule
It’s not always easy to work out, especially if you work long hours. It’s important to set a schedule you can stick with so you won’t miss workouts. You’ll also want to choose sensible locations. There’s no reason to join a gym across the city that you won’t be able to get to for a large portion of the week.
3 – Find an accountability partner
It’s time to find friends and co-workers who are looking to improve themselves too. Your chances of sticking with your exercise program are better if you have an accountability or workout partner to share the experience with.
4 – Use your phone
App stores are full of new apps that track your workouts, count your laps, time your runs, and more. You can select from full workout plans to short challenges to help you jumpstart your fitness again.
Many companies pay for employees to work out through wellness programs like Lifestyle Spending Accounts. If your employer offers it, they can pay for gym memberships, nutrition coaching, equipment, and other health-related benefits for you and your co-workers.
To learn more about it, we’d love to meet with you.
