Choosing to start getting active can be triggered for all kinds of reasons, but for many, it can be daunting when you don’t know where to start or what you need to consider. One of the considerations you need to be making is the impact that a new sports regime can have on your body, with thought given to how to avoid injury. And so, Nelsons arnicare has come up with some top tips to help you plan your fitness journey so you can train to the best of your ability without causing your
body too much unnecessary stress.
• Don’t follow all the advice you hear: One person’s fitness journey will be completely different to your own and finding what works best for you is most important in order to ensure you stay consistent and motivated. If you are having doubts in the gym, seek help from a qualified professional such as a PT and explain your goals or issues and they will be able to offer advice tailored to you.
• Find a level suited to you: Start out with a beginner level and test out how you feel. If it seems too easy for you and if you feel you could push yourself more, maybe try the next level up – it’s better to start from the bottom and work your way up than to start at a level that’s too hard for you and risk injury or discouragement. Maybe focus the first few weeks on low-intensity exercises one or two times a week, and slowly build up until you feel comfortable with what you are doing. If you are starting a new sport, try to master the basics first before jumping into anything more complicated.
• Rest, rest, rest: Rest days are just as important as training days. Not only does your body need time to recover in order to perform at its best, but rest days are also essential in order to help reduce the risk of injury. If you’re just starting out, try to get at least two rest days a week, eat the same as you would on a training day and don’t worry about being active.
• Make it fun: One of the most important aspects of sports and fitness is making sure you are enjoying it and are feeling great. If you’ve tried out football and don’t like it, maybe try tennis. If you’re getting a bit bored of running on a treadmill, try some aerobic dance classes such as Zumba.
