It’s no small step to commit to starting a new fitness journey — and if you’ve gotten to that point, the last thing you want is to encounter something that throws you off your plan, hinders your progress, or leaves you feeling discouraged.
With years of experience working with training clients and fitness newbies under his belt, Bryce Morris, CPT, PES, USAW, Dynamic Personal Trainer at Life Time in Frisco, Texas, is all too familiar with the mistakes those new to working out tend to make. Here, he names some of the most common missteps and offers advice for how to avoid them.
1. They compare themselves to others.
An important realization on any fitness journey is that it is your journey — no one else’s — and that it’s going to be unique because you and your circumstances are unique.
“I often see people who come to the Life Time, look at someone who is further along in their fitness efforts, and compare themselves to them,” says Morris. “Remember, your day one may be someone else’s day 365. Each member starts at wherever they are at that time, progress is unique to that individual, and success looks different for everyone. When you notice that you’re comparing yourself to others, remember that comparison is the thief of all joy. Any day you spend at the club working toward your health goals is one you should be proud of.”
2. They try to do too much too fast.
Morris recommends setting realistic expectations so you’re not presuming to get all the results you’re after in a short period time. “If you’ve spent a few months being sedentary, you can’t expect a big shift in just one month of training,” he says. “It may take time to see the results you want to see.”
The best path is one that focuses on quality and consistency — not necessarily quantity, according to Morris. “Create a well-balanced plan that includes strength and cardio but also time for recovery. Commit to working out a certain number of days each week and stick with it. Even if that’s just a couple of days and then you add more once you feel confident or like the workouts are getting easier. At first, your goal is to get yourself in the habit.”
Injury or burnout is prone to happen when someone jumps into workouts too hard and too fast. “Take your time and slowly increase your efforts,” he says. “If you could use help with a progressive plan that starts from your personal starting point, connect with a Dynamic Personal Trainer.”
3. They compare their current self to their younger self.
I used to be able to do this, is a sentiment Morris commonly hears when working with clients. “Sometimes — especially if someone was extremely active in past periods of their life but they haven’t upheld the same training — they place the expectation on their current self that they should be able to perform in the same ways. If your daily habits and routines have changed from the past, your abilities likely will have too.”
Capabilities also naturally change as we age — for example, you may notice your body takes more time to recover in mid- or late adulthood than it did in young adulthood. “None of these differences are reasons for discouragement,” says Morris.
4. They don’t have a set plan or program.
Morris often sees members walk onto the fitness floor without a plan — and that approach can make it challenging to achieve specific or significant results. “Members often come to do workouts, but it’s a program that can be built to really make them successful.
“Show up each day with an intentional plan and routine — one that is well-rounded with focuses on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and recovery,” he continues. “That will bring about the best results. Again, a Dynamic Personal Trainer is a great resource for putting together a plan like this.”
5. They aren’t connected to their true source of motivation.
Without a clear why for starting a workout routine, you’re more inclined to stop or quit because you’re not truly invested in the purpose of your goals, says Morris. “Before starting a focused workout program, self-examine and find your purpose and your why behind what you’re doing — that is a great motivator.”
Perhaps you’re embarking on a fitness journey because you want to have the energy to play with your kids, or you’re making an effort to exercise more because you want to ward off diseases that have affected others in your family. “When your alarm goes off in the morning and you’re feeling sore and unmotivated,” Morris says, “think of that one thing that will get you out of bed and to your workout.”
