How to start exercising again in five easy steps #31fitterdays

I did it…and so can you…I managed to start exercise again….in fact, I ran *pats self on back*

It *may* have been ten years too late, but I got back in the, rather slow, running saddle a few weeks ago, and I have run since as well. I have written on the blog about my dislike of exercise, and then my invigoration from swimming, and now, finally, I have managed to get back into running. I used to run twice a week before my kids, and now I am running once a week; it is most definitely a start. January is a great time to start this type of thing, as there are a lot of us about.

Halfords is also running a great campaign to help us; 31fitterdays. If you aren’t into running, they have their own ideas to help you get motivated and get fit for 2015! Mo, a personal trainer, has given us all a plan to get back into exercise for January and February, including some great videos to make sure you are doing it right ;-) They will also be following four people as they follow his ideas. You can check their progress out on the Halfords’ Facebook page.

KiddyCharts have partnered with Halfords to try to help a little bit more too, with our current giveaway for a Garmin Vivofit so you can keep track of your progress. Technology is an important part of exercise these days. You can use it to make sure you are working at the required level to reach the goals that you want; whether fat burning, fitness improvement, or a little bit of both.

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If you still aren’t sure about starting exercise again – perhaps sharing my five ways to kick running butt will help?

Don’t do it alone

The benefits of campaigns like #31fitterdays is that you aren’t alone; you have someone to share your pain with; sorry, I mean reach your goals *cough*

Motivating yourself can be hard, but if there is someone else there to gee you on, whether its an exercise buddy, or a running pal; even a trainer in a video, then you are more likely to get up and get moving.

In my case, I have even got my kids on my side, as they know that getting fit is important to mummy. Technology allows me to show them where I have been, or what I have done. Perhaps you can even get them doing some of the workouts with you on the 31fitterdays campaign ;-)

Use technoology to help

If you have a phone, download some Apps to help you out. As you can see, I have MapMyRun which works with Garmins, as well as your iPhone. They also have an Android App. My cycle mad husband uses MapMyRide and there are others out there. Just do a search on the App Store both for Android and iOS and you’ll find the App for you. You can use them to help monitor your progress. The Vivofit we are giving away is also another great tool for trying to monitor what you are doing.

Have a goal

Any goal will do. *Breaks into Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat for those 80s chicks among you*

Perhaps you goal can be as simple as trying to fit your exercise in three times a week, or it could be that you need to get fit enough to take part in a charity event, like the rather marvellous Team Honk Danceathon for Red Nose Day which I am doing this year. You can sign up to this here if you fancy joining me, 2,000 sweaty bodies bumping and grinding at Wembley Stadium, just why wouldn’t you?

Make sure you have the right equipment

Don’t try anything without the right gear; I don’t mean you have to wear £200 Puma running shoes, or training equipment for £3,000; just don’t try and do a run in your high heels. Obviously you aren’t going to do that, but make sure the shoes are right for you. There is nothing worse that doing exercise in ill fitting shoes, embarrasing cycling shorts, or a bra that wouldn’t even give support to two asprins on a ironing board. Know what I mean?

Be realistic

Don’t expect after a break from exercise that you are going to run 10k in under an hour. Set realistic targets, and take it slowly. I only managed to run at a pretty slow pace; not much more than a jog really, but I made it round and that motivates you to the next level.

Move your targets a little at a time, and then keep progressing a wee bit ore each time you exercise. Before you know it, you’ll be doing more than you ever imagined that you would be.

Alongside your realistic targets should also be a realism about how much and when you can fit exercise in. Fit your exercise around your normal day if you can; walking to the shops, taking the dogs for a walk, or even picking up the kids from school. Don’t expect that you can, suddenly, find time for three trips to the gym a week.

Abd most importantly, whatever you do; try to have fun – if you are ejoying things, whether its the actually exercise, or the progress you are making, you are much more likely to continue. Good luck everyone!

This is a sponsored post, but I really am running, and very sweaty at the moment. *It’s not pleasant* ;-)

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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