Exercising Tips for Newbies in Recovery
Part of your recovery and possibly part of your new year’s resolution is to take better care of yourself with a regular regiment of exercise. It’s tough to initiate a regular fitness routine if you’re not used to the level of activity but it is possible. Despite all those thoughts racing through your head worrying about what you look like sweating it out in the gym or how long you’ll stick with it, just take the first step and follow these 5 steps to stay committed.
1. Remember Your Reasons
It’s easy to think of how much you want to quit and how painful it is or how unmotivated you are. Don’t entertain these thoughts. Focus on why you’re doing this in the first place. The benefits for fighting addiction are numerous with good exercise, not to mention increased energy and self-esteem.
2. Watch People Like You when they’re Exercising
A lot of people feel nervous about the idea of embarrassing themselves in the gym. If you’re not in great shape and you’re surrounded by bodybuilders, you’re self-consciousness might get the best of you. The reality is those people aren’t paying any attention to you, they’re doing their own workout. And everybody starts somewhere.
Look on YouTube or in the gym for people of your own body type working out. It helps to see someone you relate to succeeding, it builds confidence in your eventual success.
3. Do Something Every Day
Even if you don’t kill a massive workout routine or an energetic aerobics class, you should still get out and get mobile in some capacity. Just go for a walk or light jog, a brief swim, or something fun. Make activity a part of your daily routine and it won’t be so difficult to commit to larger fitness goals.
4. Visualize Yourself
The mind is the most important muscle and must be trained. Mindset is everything, even with physical training, and especially with addiction recovery. Imagine yourself succeeding and staying in motion. Research suggests that imagining yourself practicing or moving can actually produce the self-confidence and motivation to keep moving for real.
5. Set Yourself up to Succeed
One of the best things you can do is to have mercy on your future self and organize your exercise the day before. If you plan to run in the morning, set all of your jogging clothes and shoes by the door with a music playlist already prepped. That way, you can roll out of bed and get going before your brain has time to realize what you’re doing and protest. If you have a spin class after work, have your gym bag ready as soon as you get off work so there is no excuse to call it quits. Always make it as easy on yourself as possible to limit resistance.