Fitness Blog: Getting Back Into Your Routine

By The Malibu Times · Mon Feb 16 2015

At the end of November, the man of my dreams asked me to marry him. It was a magical day in Joshua Tree; he proposed right before sunset on the top of a rock climb we had just finished. That night, we made it back to Malibu in time for a celebratory dinner at my favorite restaurant and that’s all she wrote.

Since that blissful day I have been the “engaged” girl. My life has been made up of wedding planning, family dinners, cocktails, dress shopping, champagne toasts, romantic nights out with my fiancé, sleeping-in, and of course, more champagne. Working out and eating clean is definitely not the first thing on a newly engaged woman’s “to-do” list, BUT it should be, after-all, summer bodies are made in the winter. After a couple of weeks off the fitness wagon, I am happy to say I am back on track and ready to get you there too.

Winter Workout Tips:

If you are like me and took it a little too easy this past holiday season here are some tips on how to get back into the groove:

• Start off easy. If you have taken two or more weeks off from your regular workout routine, you need to start back slowly. Do not jump right back into your intense workouts, especially if that included plyometric movements or heavy weight lifting. You will get back to where you were before you know it, but if you try too much too soon you can risk injury. Take the first two weeks to get back into the swing of things.

• There are no bad workouts. A workout is a workout and you should be proud of yourself. So what if you had to cut it short because you were too winded; you started and that’s all that matters when it comes to getting back into a routine. Taking the first step is the hardest part when getting started, so don’t be too hard on yourself, don’t expect to be at the level you left off at, just know you will be there soon enough and try to enjoy the ride. 

• Make sure you get plenty of rest. When I am not working out I can get by with seven hours of sleep, that is not the case when I am working out though. I need at least eight to nine hours of sleep when I have been working hard in the gym. Your body needs time to heal and your muscles need to rebuild; keep that in mind when you are about to watch one more episode of "Friends". Try and get to bed earlier by 15 minutes each night until you have reset your bedtime to a more appropriate time.

• Set attainable goals. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are starting out or getting back into the swing of things is making goals that are just not practical. If you haven’t worked out in eight weeks, start by telling yourself that you will workout twice a week for a month. If you are able to meet that goal, you will feel great about yourself and you might even get in a couple of extra workouts! If your goal is to workout five days a week and you only workout three days, you might feel defeated, your enthusiasm and motivation will likely disappear and you might wonder if it is even worth trying. This does not mean “go easy on yourself,” it simply means that in the beginning phase of your fitness journey most people are easily broken. Reaching these first few goals is crucial to your long-term success.