Don’t make it complicated.
When you spend all your time trying to figure out what the right workout routine is for your body type, you’ll get overwhelmed. If you try to figure out how much cardio vs. weights to do, it will get confusing.
That’s always been a problem for me. How do I know where to start?
Well, you just start. Just move your body for 30 minutes daily. 30 intentional minutes, in a row, is going to help your mental health.
Start with one goal.
I always decide to get healthy one day and then think I can make 10 changes at once. I’ll try to change my diet, my habits, my wake-up times, and my bedtime routine. That’s impossible and in no way sustainable.
My therapist recommended just one small change at a time, for at least a week, before adding something else.
So about a month ago now, I made a new goal. Thirty minutes on the treadmill daily.
No expectations for speed, to run, to lift afterward. Just walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill.
At that same time, I saw the trend online for 12-3-30. It’s a treadmill workout. 12 incline, 3 mph, 30 minutes. It sounds so easy but is so challenging. Once you do it though, you’re on a real endorphin high.
Start the habit.
Really try to make that first goal a habit before introducing other goals. And remember to keep it simple. After I started my 30 minutes on the treadmill goal, I went to more protein shakes as my next goal.
I know I need more calories and more nutrients in my diet, so it’s a good idea to move that direction.
It takes 21 days to form a habit, so I wanted to wait before trying to change something else. I did a really good job of doing 9 days in a row on the treadmill, then my body needed a break. It’s important to listen to your body.
I’ve definitely hit more of a rough patch in the last week as I’ve been on the treadmill less than I have been on it. I got distracted by a goal of 10,000 steps and not focusing on my treadmill goal.
Remember, you can always start again if you fall. It’s just important that you get back up!
Have a good mindset.
My mindset has always been an issue. I’ve been trying to lose the baby weight I’ve gained for almost 4 years now. Every time I start working out it doesn’t last. I try to change everything at once. My goal is always to get smaller as fast as I can. And every time I end up quitting.
Losing weight should never be my main goal or my only focus. It takes time to do so, especially as I’m getting older. It’s also not something that happens overnight or even a couple weeks of hard work. That’s why it’s important to have a different mindset.
Once I realized how good I felt on a treadmill workout day vs. a day I didn’t walk on the treadmill, I realized I would be back for more. It’s what keeps me going back on the treadmill. The way it makes me feel right then. That will keep you coming back.
So if you can’t keep yourself doing a workout routine, find one that makes you feel good immediately.
30 minutes of walking is supposed to do wonders for your mental health and I can definitely tell it does for mine.
I sure hope that eventually, it will show that I’ve been putting in the work, but at the very least I’m going to feel better mentally. And that’s a really big deal!