Exercise Planning
Hello Friends!
Today, I wanted to share a little about my love of movement. Early morning workouts have been my best buddy for over 25 years. Yes, sometimes it is REALLY brutal rolling out of bed at 4:15 in the morning! But, I promised myself long ago that I’d always show up! That doesn’t mean I’m cranking out a high intensity workout every day, but it does mean I move. Being active is a huge part of my wellness plan. It tires my body and quiets my mind, what a beautiful thing.
As New Year’s approaches, I start getting a lot of questions about fitness routines. After creating thousands of workout plans for people over the course of my career, I’ve learned a few things about how to increase the odds of feeling successful. Below are my big takeaways for building a plan that works!
Number one. Your plan needs to meet you where you’re at! It may sound like a great idea to start a big program with really high expectations, but it can be difficult to stick to huge life changes over time. Starting small and building on success works better! If you have never been a consistent exerciser, or haven’t worked out for a while, starting with fundamental movements first can be really helpful. Working on form and building a strong foundation is a beautiful way to get yourself ready for physical challenges you hope to conquer down the road. Body weight exercises are amazing! Chair squats, counter push-ups, lunges, hip bridges, planks, these are all wonderful and highly effective movements!
Number two. At first, commit to small amounts of time that you can easily implement into your busy life. Consider doing it right away in the morning so you can begin your day crushing your activity goal! Mornings not your jam? How about a few exercises during the day, a walk over lunch, or five minutes of stair climbing over a break from work? Where does it fit best for you? Write it down and make it a priority.
Number three. Do something you enjoy! Do you love the gym life? Socialization can be a powerful motivator! Does a sweat session by yourself feel fulfilling? Maybe you’d rather build a home gym and save on commute time! (Easy ways to do this coming soon!! 😁) Everyone has a different workout personality. It’s important to discover this for yourself. Doing something you hate just because you think you should never works great long term. I find most people abandon that plan pretty quickly. There are so many ways to move. Explore movement. Do something you love.
Number four. Long term behavior change and implementation of a consistent activity plan is a commitment. It’s for the long haul. Be patient with yourself and your body. Change is a twisty road. You may need to adjust your plan several times if it’s not working for you. That’s normal. Please do not feel discouraged! I say it all the time, life’s not perfect. Your wellness plan won’t be either. Experiment with it. Make mistakes. Grow in your journey. If it falls apart, it’s okay. Tomorrow is another day.
Movement goals are BIG opportunities to love and invest in yourself! I hope this helps you feel prepared for your planning!
Stay well•ish friends!!
Xoxo,
Dani
