Get In Shape: How to Start Your Journey to Active, Healthy Living

Over the years, CDC studies have suggested that about 60% of American adults don't get enough exercise on a regular basis. If you fall into this category, you should seriously consider trying to get in shape in the coming months.

Getting back in shape and then making it your mission to say in shape will make you look and feel better than ever before. It'll also enable you to lead a more fulfilling lifestyle overall.

It can, however, be challenging to figure out how to get into shape, especially if you're someone who hasn't traditionally always had a gym membership or access to exercise classes. But you can get in shape and improve your physical fitness by taking the right steps and trying out the right exercise routines.

Here are fitness tips that'll help you start your journey to active, healthy living.

Start by Setting Goals

"Get in shape" is obviously going to be your top goal when you want to start living a healthier life. But there will be other goals that you'll need to reach along the way to get to that ultimate goal.

With this in mind, you should kickstart things by setting a series of goals for yourself. These goals can be tied to anything from weight loss to being able to perform a certain number of repetitions while working out.

It's important to have goals because they'll make you more motivated when it comes to exercising. You'll find that you'll want to work out more when you can feel yourself inching your way closer to hitting your goals.

Carve Out Time

Over time, one survey after another has shown that most people give the same reason for not being in better shape when they're asked about their exercise routines. They say something along the lines of "I don't have enough time to work out."

One survey, in particular, showed that more than 40% of Americans turn to this excuse when explaining why they don't exercise more than they do. It's clear that some people feel as though there aren't enough hours in the day for them to find the time to get workouts in.

If you're someone who struggles to find time to work out, know that you'll need to make the time to do it if you want to get in shape. You should look for time early in the morning, right after work, or even in the middle of the day to hit the gym or even just go for a walk or run in your neighborhood.

There are bound to be at least 30 minutes each day that you can devote to working out and getting back in shape. It'll be all about finding the times that work best for you and committing to them.

Find Your Preferred Workout Routine

While a lack of time is the top reason people give for not getting in better shape, a lack of a good workout routine is another reason that's not far behind it. One recent survey found that about 70% of Americans say they would work out more if they were able to find a workout routine they loved.

Are you unsure of which workout routine would be the best option for you? If so, you should begin by testing out different exercise routines to see which ones you like the most.

By doing this, you should be able to narrow down your options and pick a preferred workout routine. You might find that, say, running is something you really enjoy once you get the hang of it.

Running has become one of the most popular types of exercise for a reason. You can do it without a gym membership or any special exercise equipment. You can also use running to improve both your physical fitness and your mental health at the same time.

Secure the Right Workout Equipment

No matter which exercise routine you decide you'd like to take part in to get in shape, there will typically be at least some equipment you'll have to buy. You'll want to work to get your hands on the right equipment so that you're able to perform exercises properly.

If, for example, you find that you love running, you'll need to invest in a great pair of running sneakers. You'll also more than likely want to purchase a good set of wireless headphones that you can use for your runs.

The SPIbelt would also be an excellent addition to your new running routine. You'll be able to hold everything from your ID to your smartphone right in a SPIbelt so that you don't have to worry about keeping these things in your pockets during your runs.

Ease Your Way Into Working Out

When you're first trying to get in shape, you're going to be excited to do it. You might be so excited that you'll be tempted to push yourself harder than you should, and you may pay the price for doing it.

For this reason, you'll want to try to scale your initial workouts back just a bit so that you can ease your way back into working out again. The last thing you want to do is go from not running at all to trying to run a 5K overnight.

If you try to run too much too quickly, it could lead to you having to deal with shin splits and other health issues that'll result in setbacks. By easing your way into a new workout routine, you'll give your body and mind the time they need to adjust.

Learn How to Push Yourself

As you get into a good groove while working out, you'll be able to start to work out harder and harder every time. Once you can do this, you'll need to learn how to push yourself to work out even harder so that you're able to start to hit the goals you set and see results.

Some people know how to motivate themselves without having to work too hard at it. Others will need to figure out how to trick their minds into wanting to work out harder.

You should do whatever works best for you when it comes to motivating yourself to put forth your best performance while working out. The harder you're able to work out, the quicker you'll be able to get in shape.

Begin Eating Healthier

There are some people who will spend weeks and sometimes even months hitting the gym to get in shape without seeing the intended results. In certain cases, they'll even feel like they're gaining weight when they're trying to lose it or losing muscle tone when they're trying to gain it without knowing why.

Oftentimes, it'll be because they're not eating as healthy as they should. People will get into the habit of "treating themselves" to more snacks when they have a workout routine going because they think it won't hurt them.

But this simply isn't true. Eating healthy is every bit as important as working out when you're attempting to get in shape. You'll need to maintain a healthy diet and avoid taking in too many calories if you want to see the changes that you're going for through your workouts.

Track Your Gains

It can be hard to see the results you're getting through working out. You likely look at yourself in the mirror just about every day, so you might not notice if you've lost a few pounds or packed some additional muscle onto your frame.

Because of this, you should track your gains by taking photos of yourself in the weeks and months after you start a new workout routine. These photos will paint a much clearer picture of how your body is changing over time.

You should also keep track of things like how many miles you're running or how much weight you're lifting. It's another easy way to track the progress you're making so that you can see the difference that working out is making.

Set New Goals Over Time

As long as you do everything else we've touched on here, it shouldn't be long before you're able to hit the goals you set back at the beginning and get in shape. But you shouldn't stop there and go back to leading a sedentary lifestyle again.

Instead, you should keep on setting new goals every time you reach your old ones and commit to becoming a better, healthier person all the time. These goals will guide you down the right path and motivate you to get in shape and stay that way for the foreseeable future.

Let Us Help You Get in Shape

Do you want to get in shape in the weeks and months to come? We can help you, especially if you plan on running a lot to get back in shape.

We sell a variety of running belts that'll come in handy for all the runners out there. They'll make running even more fun than it'll already be, and they'll protect all your personal possessions while you're out running and getting back in shape.

Go shop for the best running belts in the business and pick out the one you like the most.