By Ryan Lawson, Exercise Specialist
After the seemingly endless winter months, many of us look to the spring as a time for new beginnings. Spring is a great time to take stock of where we are, as well as an opportunity to declutter and re-organize as we plan for the exciting, warm months ahead.
The same line of thinking can be applied to your fitness program. Many of us look at January as a new beginning and resolve to live a healthier, more fitness-oriented lifestyle in the New Year. The beginning of spring is the perfect time to look at your progress and set new goals and challenges as you move forward.
Are you looking for more guidance as you progress? Here are several tips to help you “spring clean” your fitness routine.
- Get a physical—Set an appointment to talk to your doctor for an evaluation. What areas could use some attention? What do you need to focus on the most? What can you do to maintain or even improve your current health?
- Set a schedule—But be reasonable. Life can get hectic, but it’s important to make exercise part of your schedule. Don’t set a goal of exercising six days a week when you have time for only three. When life gets crazy, focus on quality over quantity and make sure to look at exercise as a healthy escape.
- Buy new clothes/pump up your playlist—These are two great ways to motivate yourself to exercise more. Go out and purchase new clothes for the warm spring weather and update your music playlist to give yourself a fresh start and add renewed drive to your fitness routine.
- Stay hydrated—With the warmer weather approaching, it’s important to drink water to replace the fluids lost through sweat. Drinking water is also a great way to feel fuller without taking in unneeded calories found in soda or sports drinks.
- Sign up for a race—During the summer months, there are all kinds of running, bicycling and even swimming races you can participate in. Committing to a race several months down the road is a fun way to give yourself time to prepare but also keep you motivated to cross the finish line. For an added bonus, you can sign up with a friend to encourage and motivate each other.
- Reward yourself—A healthier lifestyle is all about moderation, not deprivation. After you set your goals, include an appropriate reward to treat yourself for a job well done. You know that spa day you’ve always wanted? Schedule it for the day after you complete the 5K you trained so hard for.
As with all things, the more you put into your fitness routine, the more you’ll get out of it. Always remember, as you complete your fitness spring cleaning, make exercise a priority, design a plan that’s the best fit for you and set specific, realistic goals. If you’re not sure of the best course of action, please consult a fitness professional to help get you moving in the right direction.