How to Restart Exercising After a Break

Perhaps when you started your diet, you also began an exercise plan. Or maybe you used to work out, jog or play sports regularly in the past. But life’s been busy for you recently, and exercise hasn’t been top of your list of priorities.

It’s a familiar situation for many dieters: after a few weeks or months of high motivation levels, various obstacles have gotton in the way of a good exercise routine. Perhaps it’s been too hot to face the gym – or maybe schedule changes have made it difficult to fit in your usual sessions.

Just because you’ve had a break from exercising doesn’t mean you need to give up altogether. Even if this isn’t the first time you’ve started off keen and ended up quitting … you can get back into exercise. Here’s how.

1. Don’t Do Too Much Too Soon

If you haven’t set foot in the gym for six months, don’t launch back into an exercise routine that involves several classes every week.

Take things slowly: for your body and for your sanity! Trying to do too much all at once will leave you aching and maybe even injured. Plus, if you’ve got a busy schedule, you’ll find it tough to make time for your exercise.

2. Set a Minimum Target

When you’re getting back into exercise, decide on your minimum target – and make this deliberately low.

That might mean a minimum of twenty minutes walking each day. It could be one gym session a week, or even two classes a month. Having a low target like this means that it’s easy to do more if you want to – but you won’t be giving up on exercise altogether when you have a busy week.

3. Get Professional Advice

Talk to your gym staff – or a personal trainer – about having a personalized training plan just for you.

Explain what your goals are (perhaps fat loss and toning), and ask what routine you should follow. One of the reasons that many of us start off on exercise plans and fail to get far is because we don’t see the results we want … this is often because we blunder on alone without seeking advice.

4. Do Something You Enjoy

On the flip side, though, don’t let the professionals push you into doing exercises that you hate!

If you absolutely loath the treadmill, say so, and ask for an alternative. When you’re deciding what activities to do, look for ones that you enjoy. Try out different classes, or think back to what you loved as a child: perhaps swimming, trampolining or baseball!

5. Eat Enough

If you go from a sedentary lifestyle to one which involves lots of exercise, you’ll need to increase your food intake.

Obviously, don’t use a ten minute jog as an excuse for three candy bars … but do make sure you’re having a pre-workout and post-workout snack. Your body needs fuel in order to be active, and you shouldn’t exercise on an empty stomach. (Use the Activity Calculator to see how many calories you’re burning off during exercise.)

Good luck getting back into exercise – take it slowly, don’t try to do too much at once, and listen to your body. Remember that the “no pain, no gain” mantra can be dangerous: if you feel nauseous, dizzy or in pain, you should stop exercising and consult your doctor.

Written by Ali Hale