How to Make a Fitness Comeback

But rather than continuing to make excuses, I’m making plans; and since I figured I’m probably not the only one who’s gotten into a no-workout fu…

In the run-up to my wedding, I was working out four times a week. That’s a fairly impressive amount for someone with as heavy a workload as me, especially with the kind of social life I try to have.

Since the wedding…things have kind of gone downhill. A lot. For the first month after the wedding, I didn’t go to the gym once. Not once. I have been in recent weeks, but nowhere close to four times a week, which is a shame because I always feel good after a workout.

But rather than continuing to make excuses, I’m making plans; and since I figured I’m probably not the only one who’s gotten into a no-workout funk, I thought it might be beneficial to share with you guys what I’m doing to make my fitness comeback.

1. Make date

Couple getting ready for a morning run

I have a friend who’s also trying to take control of her health (and doing a far better job of it than I am). We’re scheduling once a week dates at the gym. If all else fails, and I can’t make it to the gym on any other day of the week, I always make it when I make it a date with her.

2. Reduce your expectations

Close up woman hand writing on notebook

Part of the reason I’ve been working out less is scheduling. Around 10 hours of my ‘free time’ disappeared after the wedding when I was given an extra work assignment. 8 of those hours would previously have been assigned to gym time, and what would used to be slower mornings and open evenings became work time. As much as I would like to be back at the gym four times a week, right now it just isn’t a realistic goal. I’ve reduced my goal to twice a week, which is a lot more doable.

3. Sleep more

It sounds weird, but give it a little thought and you’ll see it makes perfect sense. If it isn’t work or other responsibilities getting in the way of a workout, it’s guaranteed to be tiredness. An extra hour of sleep is always going to win against an hour-long workout when you’re exhausted. Prioritise rest and you’ll find you no longer have the excuse that you’re too tired to workout, in fact, if anything, you’ll find that as you bring workouts back into your routine you’ll feel more energized and ready to take on whatever the week throws at you.

4. Do it for the right reasons

Cross training gym, exercising and focus concepts.

Shame, guilt, and fear are never good reasons to do or not do anything. Figure out why getting back into the habit is important to you. What are your long-term life goals? Are you hoping to be healthier so you can play with your kids, are you trying to get your blood pressure down, do you just want to be able to get back into those overpriced jeans you bought in the summer? For me, the most important thing is to set myself up for healthy habits in the long-term. I want to be 70 years old and able to walk unassisted, ride a bike, and stand for long periods of time. Your why is more important than your what.

How about you? Have you got any tips for how to get back into working out after a long break? What’s worked for you?

All of the content and media on Lifesum is created and published for information purposes only. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Users should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice. If you have or think you are at risk of developing an eating disorder, do not use the Lifesum app and seek immediate medical help.