Tips to get back into exercise after a long break!

Whether your break was due to injury, pregnancy, childbirth, life just getting in the way, or in most cases right now because of COVID! Getting back into exercise after you have not done anything for a while is hard! It may have started with a busy week, which then turned into two and before you knew it, it had been months since you had visited the gym. Most of us struggle to get back into a consistent habit. Once we’re ready to return to our exercise routine but whatever the reason was for the break, there are ways to pull yourself out of a workout rut and get back into routine.

Let’s have a look at a few ways you can re-introduce exercise without it all feeling too overwhelming.

Find your motivation
The first thing about fitness is you must want it for yourself. Finding your motivation is personal and different for everyone. Another thing that will help with your motivation is to set yourself goals.

Ease back into it
Start with shorter training sessions and fewer training days and build up. If you were diligent about your routine a month or two ago, do not expect to hop back into it right away like nothing has changed. You do not want to go straight back to the same amount of training as you were doing before your break as your body will need to re-adjust into exercising. Take it one step at a time and take it easy as you do not want to push too hard too fast and end up injured.

Don’t change everything at once
When you take time off, it is easy to get excited and want to do everything all at once. Try to focus on one step at a time. Getting back into a fitness routine, is a big step on its own. You may be tempted to fix your eating habits too, but it is easy to fixate on making too many changes at once. Before making changes to your diet, start with adding more water to your daily routine first. Focus on one thing at a time and how you feel.

Build your foundations
This means doing all the ‘boring’ stuff. Before adding weights back into your workout, start with all the basics. Form is the most important thing you should focus on. If you cannot perform the basic movement patterns with great technique, then it can risk injury.
It is especially important if you have been on a break from exercise due to pregnancy and giving birth. You need to build your pelvic floor and core strength first before you can get back to your regular exercise routine.

Stop judging yourself
No amount of self-judgment and unkind words said to your body will help you move forward on this journey. Do not get down on yourself if your friend can do more push ups than you or that person in the gym has the six-pack of your dreams. You need to focus on what you can do and be happy about your own small wins as that will be what keeps you going long-term. Your health and fitness are not found in the extreme fitness routines and crazy diets. It also does not all end on Tuesday if you eat chocolate.

So, find your motivation, take it easy and don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone goes through this at some point and it can be tough but just take small steps and you will be back into a routine in no time.