Working out has never ever ever been my favorite thing to do. I’m competitive by nature so I love to play games or team sports for fun but going to the gym to workout has always been a struggle. I was even on the volleyball team during my Freshman year in high school. I’m trying to get into a routine of working out a few times a week. I’m completely out of shape since it’s literally been years since I’ve been in a gym. Some days I eat like I pig. When we travel or visit family, it gets completely out of control. The food literally comes at us from all directions. Honestly, the last time that I stepped foot into a gym to workout was in college at UCF. The gym was so amazing there. Even though I hated working out, I kind of miss it.
I miss the feeling of being in shape or at least sort of being in shape. I miss being able to fit into my clothes. I’m the heaviest that I’ve ever been in my life and it sucks. I can’t wear the clothes that I want to wear all the time. Sometimes my body just makes me feel uncomfortable no matter how good it may look on social media. The last few weeks have been my breaking point for me. While I realize that some of my weight gain I can’t control because of my thyroid, I realize that most of my habits I can control.
We’ve made conscious efforts to make healthier lifestyle choices at home and make better choices when it comes to meal planning but that isn’t going to get me back to a weight where I feel the best. No matter how much I want to avoid it, I have to start working out.
4 Tips for Getting Back Into an Active Daily Routine
1. Pace yourself.
Working out doesn’t mean that you have to run 5 miles or do 100 squats every day. Everyone’s workout routine is going to be different. Start small by doing workouts that you know you can handle. Going hard in the beginning will only lead to you becoming burnt out and giving up. I started small by taking walks every day. I’m not sure what I’ll opt for next. Hopefully I’ll find a class that I’m absolutely in love with and will want to stay in for a long time.
2. Adopt a workout beauty routine that makes you feel good when working out.
e.l.f. Cosmetics recently released a line of “active” beauty products that are meant for working out so I decided to give them a try. The post-workout wipes are my absolute favorite from the line. You know that sweaty, sticky feeling that you get after working out? These wipes are perfect for giving you a refreshing feeling after your workout. They’re perfect for wiping away all of the sweat especially if there’s no shower around. The cool down mist is another fave and great for cooling you down after every workout. I’m not a runner. I never have been. I probably never will be but this cool down mist is perfect for any workout.
3. Opt for taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
Take the stairs instead of taking the elevator or escalator whenever you’re out. This might seem like something so small but it makes a big difference when you’re trying to get back into an active daily routine.
4. Take a short walk during your lunch break.
Technically since I work for myself from home, I don’t have a set lunch break. However, I try to carve out an hour of time during the middle of the day so that I can eat and give my eyes a rest from the computer screen. Once I’ve eaten, I give my brain time to rest. I do this every day but today was the first day that I’ve actually gone for a walk. It felt good. I’ll have to come up with an alternative for rainy days but for now I’ll stick to that plan.
Photos by Emma Shourds Photography
These 4 tips are great to go by. The first step is always the hardest. Thanks for pointing these out to us!
Great ideas as my son have decided we are going to make a joint Weight Loss for me and Work Out program for him daily. Although I think he is trying to kill me with what he has planned for us. But with the tips you posted I know I can do it, and I will do it.
My husband and I have not been able to successfully work out together. My daughter and I can do things like swimming together or walking but nothing intense.
Good for you. I’m currently at my heaviest as well and I know what you mean … I hate it. I stopped eating as much sugar (I cut out chocolate almond milk at night, which I miss….) and I lost like 4-5 pounds pretty easily, which was nice, but now I’m stuck there. I also mall-walk with coworkers 3 days a week, and I agree that it’s nice to get away from the computer for a bit.
I’m not active at all. The most activity that I get is walking to the car to get my daughter from school or when we’re on vacation. I do like playing some sports and doing things like walking with my family so I’m trying to get back into that.
Whenever I have to take the stairs, I feel like I’m gonna die by the time I get to the top lol! All the more reason I NEED to start a workout routine ASAP.
That’s the same exact way I feel too!
My current weight is not something I like … I would love to do all these and impliment them into my daily routine.