How To Start a Workout Plan and Stick with It: 5 Tips From a Personal Trainer’s Perspective

What is the “best” type of exercise?

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked this question, I’d have a nice nest egg for my children’s college fund. The truth is, every type of exercise serves different purposes so there’s really no “best” type.

The answer is very subjective. That would be similar to asking what type of vehicle is the “best.” What will you be using the vehicle for? How much space do you need? How many miles do you drive each day? What amenities are appealing to you? You get the picture….

Even though there’s no “best” type of exercise, I do have the same responses every time I’m asked. All of these tips are important, but I’ll save the best for last.

Overall, the “best” exercise is the one you can do consistently and can enjoy…. even just a little bit.

When I’m planning a training session for one of my clients, there is no one size fits all workout plan. If I know my client’s interests, I try to implement them into their training. For example, do you love to dance? Choose a workout where you can implement dancing into your workout — it’s a HUGE calorie burner. Or maybe you love golfing — focus on rotational strength exercises to power up your game. Do you need a major stress burner? Turn up the volume and crank out some heavy reps and sets.

Here are my 5 best tips for starting a workout program and sticking to it:

1. Find a fitness program that isn’t miserable to you

That sounds funny, doesn’t it? But the truth is, we’re all different and have different ideas of what’s enjoyable. Also, depending on your gender, age and fitness level, picking a program that suits you isn’t just important, it’s crucial to your success.

Have you ever done a workout or taken a fitness class that you really just hated? I’ll raise my hand here and tell you that not only did I do a workout program that I hated, but I continued to do that type of workout for nearly a year because I thought all workouts were created equal. I didn’t realize there were so many options for losing weight and gaining muscle.

After nearly a year of ripped hands, puking after training and getting some results I didn’t really desire (little girl with big quads), I realized CrossFit was just not my thing. With that said, I have friends and family who loooove CrossFit, and that’s exactly my point.

2. Determine your goals

I’m going to let you in on a little secret — goal setting gives me anxiety. Wait, you mean I have to hold myself accountable?! As much as it can be a pain in the rear, if we don’t know where we’re going, we can’t ever get there.

I envy people who get excited at the new year to set their goals and watch them transpire. I am just not that girl. BUT I do know how important goal setting is.

If you’re a person who loves setting goals, then this part will be really easy for you, and you certainly don’t need any advice from this girl. But if you’re anything like me and have a hard time thinking it through and writing it out, start simple:

• What is your “big” goal? Ex: Lose weight
• Determine steps and actions you can take to achieve your goal
• Break your goal into mini-goals and celebrate each time you reach a mini-goal (this also helps you feel more motivated and makes your big goal feel more achievable)
• Determine a realistic timeline to reach your goal

If you need help with goal setting or aren’t convinced that it matters, you might find this article interesting.

3. Set yourself up for success

I’ve heard all sorts of reasons from family, friends and clients on “why they’re not going to work out today,” and some of them are pretty comical. When we’re preparing to do something that might be challenging, a natural tendency is to think of reasons not do it.

Start thinking of things you can do that will make it easier or more convenient to get to the gym or squeeze in that at-home workout.

• Pack your gym bag and put it in the car the night before. If you’re working out at home, lay out your clothes so you can throw them on quick and get it done.
• Create a playlist of songs you can crush a workout to
• Invite a friend so you’re less likely to back out

4. Commit to your plan before it gets hard

I cannot stress this enough my friends. Let’s say I’m debating on whether or not I’m going to get up a little bit earlier and run on my treadmill in the morning. When do you think the best time to decide this would be? Certainly not when I’m cozily snuggled up in my bed wanting more sleep! This might seem like a no-brainer but it has to be emphasized. If I want to get up early and run on my treadmill, I make the decision the night before, not as my alarm goes off.

The same concept applies when you want to go to the gym after work. Never decide after work. Commit before you’re in a situation where it’s easy to say, “not today.”

I know this takes a little bit of self-discipline but it can make all the difference in your results. Also, it’s a really great feeling to make a plan, commit to your plan, and follow through with it.

5. Have a meaningful “why”

Why do you want to achieve your goal? Let’s take our example goal of losing weight. Yes, you might want to lose weight, but why? Yes, I know there are many obvious reasons for wanting to lose weight but hear me out.

I can tell you with absolute certainty that the people who have a bigger, more meaningful why behind their goals are the ones who have longevity with their results. Have a bigger reason for losing weight than to look a certain way. Think deeper: how would it effect your life? What would it give you the courage or physical ability to do?

Yes, aesthetics are usually the reason people start to work out. But at a deeper level, the appearance is only surface level. The really good stuff has nothing to do with how you look. I’ve seen some really amazing things result from fitness which is why I’m so passionate about it.

I’ve seen someone with severe PTSD – who wasn’t able to go out in public- blossom into a beautifully vibrant woman who is now active in society.

I’ve seen a young lady who didn’t know a thing about fitness get physically and mentally prepared for the Air Force.

I’ve watched countless individuals get dragged to a class with a friend thinking they would hate it and years later been told it changed their life.

Let the aesthetics be the extra bonus. Have an awesome “why”.

Whether you’re a complete newbie or just looking for inspiration to get started on a new workout plan, let me know what has held you back or worked for you. I look forward to hearing from you!