Take it Slow With a New Fitness Routine

By Donna Kostiew

The New Year is here, which means the lists of resolutions and promises of self-improvements will be plastered all over social media. I will learn more about my Aunt Sarah’s diet goals and my sister’s promises to become a better driver than I probably want to know. But I still commend them. Trying to improve oneself is hard. Attempting to get back on track with those things that we have let slide over the past year can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. Sometimes, the best approach is the slow approach, especially for a renewed commitment to physical fitness.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

One of the most important factors to optimal health is participating in a regular fitness routine. But if you haven’t been active for a while, you don’t want to jump into an exercise program too quickly or intensely. Avoid potential injuries right out of the gate with the following suggestions.

Develop a realistic fitness plan - If your neighbor is a super-star tri-athlete and you’re not, then maybe you don’t want to follow their fitness routine in the exact same way that they do. It’s important to create a realistic plan with attainable goals that you are going to be able to reach. Be practical with your schedule and your own fitness level so that you can be successful with it.

Modify if you have to - A challenging workout isn’t meant to be easy, but it is also not meant to be impossible either. Don’t be afraid to modify the stretch or exercise if you aren’t able to complete it as it was designed. The best thing to focus on is your form, so if you have to alter your position slightly to maintain that goal, then go ahead and do so. You also don’t want to injure your body by pushing yourself to do something that you just aren’t ready to do.

Challenge yourself - Sure, this sounds like the complete opposite of “easing” into a new workout routine, but hear me out. When you are adapting to a new fitness level, you still want to challenge your body in new ways. It is important to not stay in your comfort zone and you certainly don’t want to get into the same rut that sidelined your goals in the previous year. Keep things interesting and change your workout regularly.

Add chiropractic care - Getting regular chiropractic adjustments will enhance your workouts by improving balance and flexibility, reducing physical stress and injuries, and supporting back, neck, and joint health. And if you do get injured or are feeling sore? Chiropractic care can help with that too!

So be patient with your fitness routine and goals. Unlike the New Year, not everything needs to start off with a bang!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Portland, Ore.