With the start of the semester rolling, many are looking for ways to stay active. Creating a fitness routine is a great start to reach those fitness goals. Incorporating a schedule can help balance your daily life routine of work, school, and social life. If you’re looking to start working out, this is for you.
Create a Schedule:
To begin, you want to set out your daily routine whether it is digitally or physically. Take a look at the times you are available; schedule the days you would like to work out and the days you want to take off. I would suggest working out three to five days depending on your schedule.
Ask yourself, “what am I specifically looking to work out?” For instance, on Monday’s I focus on legs and glutes, while Tuesday’s are dedicated to arms and back. On Thursday’s I prioritize cardio and core exercises. I typically take two days off, but on other days, I might concentrate on a specific area, such as legs only, or do a full-body workout.
Depending on your style, do exercises that best suit you and your goals. Everyone’s fitness goal looks different; meaning your workouts can look very different from what you see others doing. Keep in mind to incorporate dynamic stretches before your workouts to warm up your muscles and prevent injury.
Additionally, it is important to have rest days; I can’t stress this enough! It is okay if you take rest days. You can consider taking two to three days off per week due to your body needing rest. Yes, you will still see results as long as you stay consistent. Life can get in the way sometimes, so it’s totally normal if your gym or rest days alternate.
Fuel your body:
Starting your day with a good breakfast is important. You should be having good meals during the day to give you the nutrition and energy you need. One habit I engraved into my diet is incorporating more protein. You should set a diet that works best for your health goals. I usually follow the 90/10 rule, where 90% of my diet is clean, healthy foods and drinks.
Another suggestion I have is to consider using pre-workout supplements or creatine. Research has shown that creatine can benefit both your body and your mind. Personally, I use OxyShred, a thermogenic fat burner, but there are different options available that this brand offers.
Pointers from gym-goers:
Dayanara Olmedo, a sophomore biology student, advised, “start with four to five exercises, three sets of 12 to 15 repetitions. Try to test how much your weight limit is and with consistency, your progress will come with time and dedication.” Olmedo also noted that balancing different aspects of her life is difficult, so she sometimes only goes to the gym for half an hour between her breaks before classes.
Marwan Elgoghel, a sophomore software engineering student, exercises for an hour and a half, five to six days a week. Marwan recommended, “make sure to give your targeted muscle group enough rest after your workouts.” Amidst balancing school, work, and multiple responsibilities, he said that he continues to make an effort to stay active.
Additional Tips + Advice:
Note that you don’t need to work out for three hours to get a good workout in. I can get a good workout done in one hour. Additionally, you should not push yourself too hard as a beginner. When you’re starting off, you’re learning and establishing a routine which takes time getting used to.
Don’t feel embarrassed! We all start somewhere. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or look things up during your workouts. It takes a few tries to get your form right for certain exercises.
When I first started going to the gym, I found YouTube videos and TikTok’s from gym professionals really helpful for learning workouts and new strategies. I am constantly learning new things even now as I continue my fitness journey.
Getting started can be challenging, but the results are definitely worth it. There are days where I struggle to make it to the gym, but I remember the reasons why I began my fitness journey. To stay fit, it is about having discipline. Often, our lack of motivation interferes, but it’s the discipline that pushes us to show up. Make the commitment to show up for yourself and let this be the time where you can finally begin your fitness journey!
