How to Start Exercising After a Break

It’s easy to fall out of the habit of exercise — sometimes family, work, and social obligations pile up, and it becomes difficult to make time for a regular fitness routine. No matter how long of a break you may have taken, it’s never too long to start again! You may have lost some of your stamina but you’ll get it back over time once you make exercising a regular part of your life again. Before you get started, there are some things to consider as you ease back into a fitness routine. Check out the tips below on how to start exercising again after a break. 

Make a Plan

Before you start a new routine, plan out what it will look like. What days and times will you exercise, where will you do it, and what types of exercise will you do? When will you start gradually adding more days, higher intensity, or longer sweat sessions? Think about your current habits and lifestyle and make a plan that’s realistic. By thinking it all through before you start, you’ll have a blueprint for success. 

Talk to Your Doctor

Make an appointment and tell your doctor about your plan to start exercising again. Your doctor can do a physical and let you know if any types of exercise pose potential risks. Routine lab work can set baselines for things like your cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose levels, and more. After you’ve worked out for a while, have your labs run again. Your doctor can compare your current labs with the ones taken before you started — this is a better way to measure changes to your health than simply relying on the scale. 

Start Slow

It can be tempting to jump into a hard cardio class or pick up a heavy weight in order to try and see quick results. However, this can lead to injury or disappointment when your body doesn’t do what you want it to. Improve your stamina and strength over time by starting slow and gradually increasing the intensity of your workouts. Likewise, don’t make too many changes to your lifestyle at once or you may get overwhelmed and not stick with any of your plans. Check out this article for tips on staying motivated. 

Set Goals

When it comes to how to start exercising after a break, motivation can be a key factor. Is your immediate goal to get stronger, run a half marathon, or to be able to walk 30 minutes without needing a break? Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself so on days that feel tough, you can remind yourself what you are working towards. Here are some tips on how to set goals. 

Remember to Schedule Recovery Days

Often when we get excited to start a new workout routine, we get so into it that we forget to rest. Recovery days are important, as they give your body a chance to repair. Active rest days may include light movement, like a walk or scenic but easy bike ride. This helps your body recover by aiding in muscle repair and blood flow, and movement can help relieve stress and anxiety. Passive rest days are when you don’t do any movement at all and are important to take when you feel like your body needs major rest. 

Stay Hydrated

Drinking water helps your body maintain proper blood pressure, cellular health, lubricated joints, and many other things essential to good health. Now that you’ll be sweating more, it’s very important to stay hydrated. Here are tips on how to drink enough water.