Easing back in to exercise can be a task, especially after a long break. VAIBHAV SOMANI shares easy tips that can help you get back into the exercise routine

If you are in the lockdown mode at your home or struggling with making time from work commitments, family obligations and doing household chores, it may seem daunting and impossible to accelerate anything else on the plate. As a consequence, people tend to give up the one thing they don’t wish to do — exercise. And long before you know it your non-workout days would have extended into weeks or months.

Whatever the reason of your busyness, there are ways to tug yourself out of a workout rut and make an enduring routine. So irrespective of whether you are a sports person, a regular housewife or a fitness enthusaist, its never a bad idea to shake your self up and get back into the exercise routine.

Here, are the few points that will help you get back on track.

Planning: One of the first steps, before you dive back into an exercise routine, is to plan out what you want to achieve, how you want to get there, and what you want your routine to look like. It is always advisible to start small and not undertake any aggressive exercises if its been quite a while since you last worked out.

Setting up a goal: One thing lockdown has assured is that most of us have gained weight. If you have put on a lot of weight during this time, then you need to set a target, what you're expecting and how much weight you want to achieve. The setting goal will always give you a holistic approach that includes stretching, cool down and workout sessions.

Schedule your workout like you schedule your meeting: Discipline is a must in this case. As you ease back into your fitness routine, don't forget to make a schedule for your workout session. There is a high possibility that your mind will subconsciously look for excuses to not work out and look out for distraction to deter from your plan. Schedule a time that you won't get easily distracted, if you know you can get caught up with work in the evening then schedule your time for a workout in the morning or vice versa.  

Start with an easy workout: As they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Getting started is sometimes the hardest part, as you feel less motivated and don’t know where to start. It is better to start the exercise routine at a slightly less intense pace and gradually increase the momentum with time. The high intense routines initially will exhaust you quickly and may eventually feel like too much to deal with, so start small but practice consistently.

Eating right to get back into shape: If you listen to your grandparents most of them would tell you to avoid eating out of a ‘ready made packet’, which means avoiding junk food and eating mindfully. Eating a well-balanced diet can assist you to get the calories and nutrients you require to fuel the daily activities and help you reach your work out goals.

Things to avoid: People tend to overdo the exercise initially and end up being hurt or injured as the body. So, don’t set too many unrealistic goals at once and ditch the all-or-nothing mind-set.

The writer is Director, Gravolite