Motivation: 10 Tips for Beginners who have just joined the gym!

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It was a very difficult decision for me to switch my blog from a normal food blog to shifting its focus to health and fitness. I have spent close to a year, procrastinating, thinking that making this switch would ruin what I already have, all my beautiful readers may get tired or bored, and honestly it was just another excuse. For a person who finds it easiest to express herself in the form of writing, it was like my life depended on it.

Now that I have finally taken the plunge, I am nothing but overwhelmed and awe-inspired. I am so thankful to each one of you who have been religiously reading my blog, trying my recipes, following my journey on various modes of social media, writing to me, pouring your hearts out and sharing your emotional struggles too. Seriously, I feel humbled. Thank you so, so much. One of you reached out to me and offered tonnes of helpful advice and it helped me a great deal. I am not revealing your identity, but please know that you have been very helpful! Thank you so much 🙂

Here is a list of 10 tips for beginners who have just joined the gym, written by one of my readers!

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What prompts us all to join the Gym ?

We want to get out there in the competitive world, be it our friend circle, our work place, family functions, to stand out in any activity. looking fit & getting noticed for being awesomely built.
1. When you join the gym make a pact with yourself to be regular for
the first three months.

2. You will find many Gym pundits on the gym floor. Some of them may be
your friends, pumping Iron for the past many years. Please don’t take
his Gyaan on the Gym floor. Your trainer will lose interest in you.

3. Be honest with your trainer with regards to your goal & the amount
of commitment you are ready to pledge to achieve your goal.

4. Once your body measurements are taken down by your trainer, make a
copy of the same & keep it for your record. Ask your trainer the next
due-date for measurements. (If your gym does not do this, please take your measurements and keep checking every month)

5. Discuss with Your trainer any/all medical injury that you are ailing from.

6. Modify your diet plan. Your body needs those extra quality calories
(proteins , carbs, etc ) to help you meet with your goal. Seek the
assistance of a certified  dietician.

7. Yes, You need motivation at the gym, a training buddy is a good
idea but not only will he have mood swings, different plans on certain
days. No two bodies are the same. So workout alone with a vengeance.
Your pump & burn should be Your best motivator.

8.Train Your core. Ask your trainer about your body type & never
hesitate to ask him questions, if any.

9. Educate yourself on fitness vide the Internet, journals etc

10. Please seek your Doctors go-ahead before you start an exercise regime.

PLEASE DONT TALK ON THE GYM FLOOR. THE GYM FLOOR AIN’T A PLACE FOR
SOCIALISING. YoU WILL END UP DE-MOTIVATING OTHERS.

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My blog reader Nairutee who also spreads a lot of love over my Instagram feed (<3) added some points in the comments section, updating them here as well! 

I’d like to add a few more points to this –

> Stretch, stretch, stretch! Before and after workouts. One of the most imp elements people usually ignore.

> If you can’t go to a gym there are tonnes of other options. Go to your nearest park,start with brisk walking and slowly build to a light jog. Take a jump rope along. Join a zumba / aerobics class. Once you start enjoying the exercise, you might just be motivated to join a gym to take your workouts a notch higher.

> Always.. Always keep a food journal. In this age of smartphones you can easily download a good app where you can log what you eat for getting a basic idea about how much you are eating (or over or under eating). This personally has helped me a lot eat more consciously and make better food choices.

> Workout not just to lose weight but to get fitter and build better flexibility and stamina. The weightloss will definitely happen.

> And last but not the least, don’t do it for others – because your mother, husband, boyfriend asked you to. Till the time you do not make it “your own” goal – that you’re doing it for yourself because you want to feel fitter and energetic and healthier – it will feel like a burden. So just accept yourself and start working on yourself and let your efforts do the rest of the talking 🙂 

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I think these tips are great! Don’t you?

If you have something to share, you can write to me too! My email address is exploreyourkitchen at gmail dot com 🙂