{"id":51852,"date":"2025-08-08T02:34:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T02:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/51852\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T02:34:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T02:34:15","slug":"how-to-start-exercising-and-stick-with-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/51852\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start Exercising And Stick With It"},"content":{"rendered":"

The hardest part of working out consistently<\/a>? Getting started. Once you do, though, you start feeling (and soon, seeing!) the positive impact on your mind and body.<\/p>\n

Whatever your age or experience, starting an exercise routine has many benefits, says Kristen McParland<\/a>, a NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, and developer of the WH+ Beginner Workout Plan<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Building muscle<\/a> increases your metabolic rate<\/a>; your bones, ligaments, and tendons get stronger; your blood pressure<\/a> and immunity may improve<\/a>; your brain<\/a> gets sharper, and you may even live longer<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Here’s how to begin, plus key movement patterns you’ll want to know… <\/p>\n

Best Tips For Starting A Workout Plan, Any Plan Set reasonable goals. Specifically, determine an achievable number of days and time to work out<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s really difficult for a beginner to go from zero days to five,\u201d says Kristen McParland, a NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, and developer of the WH+ Beginner Workout Plan<\/a>. \u201cStart small and build.\u201d You can always add more days and time as you go.
Pick the time of day that\u2019s best for you. Some people love working out in the morning, while others prefer to exercise in the evening. The so-called \u201cbest time to work out\u201d<\/a> depends on what\u2019s best for you and your body, McParland says. Feel free to play with your schedule to see what works.
Then, stick to your schedule. Once you decide on the best time of day, add your workouts to your calendar as if they were meetings, because it \u201chelps you get into a routine,\u201d McParland says. You wouldn\u2019t cancel a meeting with your boss or lunch with a friend at the last minute, so don\u2019t cancel on yourself.<\/p>\n

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Listen to your body. If you need a rest day, take it. If your body is craving more movement (cardio or strength training), add another day each week when you\u2019re ready.
Fuel properly. McParland recommends eating three meals a day and prioritizing protein intake<\/a>. Why? Protein<\/a> is necessary to increase your energy, which not only reduces fatigue but also helps you push hard in your workouts, she says. A good rule of thumb: Aim to eat 20 to 30 grams of protein per meal<\/a> to stimulate muscle growth.
Focus on yourself. \u201cDon\u2019t compare your journey or progress to anyone else\u2019s, even other beginners,\u201d McParland says. \u201cComparison is the thief of joy.\u201d Heard that!\"bald<\/p>\n

Westend61\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Movements to Master<\/p>\n

One of the easiest ways to feel more comfortable during workouts or in the gym is to familiarize yourself with the foundational movement patterns of strength training. These are the main ones you\u2019ll want to hit every week:<\/p>\n

Push: Any movement that involves pushing something away from your body. Examples: pushups<\/a>, bench presses, shoulder presses, and overhead presses.Pull: A movement in which you pull something toward your body. Examples: chinups and bent-over rows.Squat: When you lower your hips and then stand back up. Examples: pulse squats, sumo squats<\/a>, and kettlebell squats.Lunge: Standing with your legs apart, either in a lateral position or with one foot staggered in front of the other, then shifting your weight onto them one at a time, and then returning to a stand. Examples: split squats and lateral lunges.Hinge: Any movement that requires you to hinge from your hips. Examples: deadlifts, single-leg deadlifts, sumo deadlifts, and kettlebell swings.Carry: A move that involves carrying a heavy weight around, like a dumbbell<\/a> or kettlebell. Examples: farmer\u2019s carry, single-arm carry, and overhead carry.Get Stronger With A WH+ Workout Plan\"Chevron\"Chevron\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Addison Aloian is the associate health & fitness editor at Women\u2019s Health, where she writes and edits across the health, weight loss, and fitness verticals. She\u2019s also a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). In her free time, you can find her lifting weights at the gym, running on the West Side Highway in New York City\u2014she recently completed her first half-marathon\u2014and watching (and critiquing!) the latest movies that have garnered Oscars buzz. In addition to Women’s Health, her work has also appeared in Allure, StyleCaster, L’Officiel USA, V Magazine, VMAN, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n