Beginning your fitness journey does not have to be difficult or even time consuming.  There are many simple and easy beginner workouts that can provide good results right in the comfort of your own home.  The best part is most workouts don’t require the purchase of expensive equipment or even require gym memberships.  This means there is no real reason not to get started and begin your journey of a healthier lifestyle.  Just remember to talk with your health care provider before getting started!

Listen, any type of physical activity, whether it is walking, dancing, playing organized sports, or any other movement you choose to do will have many health and wellness benefits.  These benefits can be both physically and mentally. 

Some benefits you may see and feel with regular physical activity include:

• Mood Improvement – exercise can increase the production of endorphins in your body which can produce positive emotions and improve your mood.
• Help with weight loss – exercise is critical in burning calories and increasing your metabolism as well as aids in maintaining your muscle mass and weight loss.
• Supports your muscles and bones – exercise is essential in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones. 
• Increase energy – exercise has shown to be an energy booster and help with improving fatigue.
• Improve skin health – regular exercise can promote blood flow and provide antioxidant protection that can shield your skin and even help the delay of skin aging.
• Help with brain health and memory – regular exercise improves the blood flow in the body and to the brain.  This improved blood flow and help with your brain health and memory.
• Improve sleep quality and relaxation – any type of regular physical activity can relax you and help you sleep better making you feel more energized during the day.

These are just a few of the benefits you can experience with committing to regular physical activity.  Exercise has the ability to improve every aspect of your life inside and out and it does not have to take expensive gym memberships or expensive equipment to achieve a better lifestyle and feel better both physically and mentally. The hardest part will be getting started!

So now what?  We all talk about the plans we have, set the date to start, we create lists, we might even lay out our workout clothes the night before, and have really good intentions to start, BUT, that planned day comes and then what?  Fear sets in right?  We begin to second guess ourselves, make excuses like I am tired, the gym will be too busy, the weather is bad, or you become self-conscious and I am sure the list goes on.  It is almost like you are feeling defeated before you even get started. Whatever it is, I am here to tell you this is all normal!  Listen, I have for the most part been pretty active my entire life, never really had a weight issue, but then life happened.  Marriage, kids, divorce then middle age and I found myself starting and stopping my fitness journey more than once.  And guess what, that is ok too!  We are not perfect, we are human and we all have our own stuff going on.  This is what I have learned over the years through my own struggles and achievements, you need to realize that no one and I mean no one can want or do this for you!  Only you can do it, you need to want it and you really need believe in yourself along with putting in the work to achieve your goal.  It is not going to be easy and if I am honest with you, it is going to be HARD (full disclosure here).  You will not see immediate results so that means you will not see anything today, tomorrow or even a week from now, but if you commit and really do this, in a few months from now you will begin to feel better than you do today, you will look and feel so much happier and you will be able to see noticeable changes in your body. 

As you begin this fitness journey, don’t strive for perfection because chances are you will disappoint yourself.  Progress is what you need to look for, are you getting better than yesterday, are you being consistent, are you gaining progress toward your goal?  You will have ups and downs, good days and bad days; however it is so very important to remain positive.  Guess what?  Tomorrow is a new day, forget about the bad day and move on.  Don’t dwell on it and drag you down.  Keep going!  You got this! Along with remaining positive, you must hold yourself accountable.  This might mean scheduling time to work out, commit to not eating out each day, meal prep your lunches, create a check list; whatever it is do it and stick to it.  Your goal is to succeed so do everything in your power to be successful.  Plan your day wisely so that you can fit everything you need to into your day.  Trust me this works!!  With that said, don’t play the coulda – shoulda – woulda game with yourself.  This serves no purpose, if you make a decision not to work out or not to eat healthy just accept it, enjoy it and move on because guess what, tomorrow is another day.  Just don’t continue to do that, get back in the saddle and get back at it the next day.  Remember we are human!  Lastly you set this goal so that means it must be important for you so don’t sacrifice good habits, good form in favor of lifting heavier weights or stronger resistance.  You should want to do it the right way.  Be mindful of what you are doing and do it with purpose!

In my household, we lived by a motto and my kids still do to this day! 

Dream – Believe – Achieve

Have a dream, believe in yourself and you will achieve your dream!  The same thing applies with your fitness journey, you have a dream, but you need to believe in yourself and really want it so that you can achieve it!

Are you ready to get started?  Check out the FREE Beginner Home Workout Guide that I am offering on my site! If you want more information about on demand workouts click here for my recommended workout plans.  Shoot me a message, connect with me on social media, ask me a question, whatever it is, I am here for you!