Starting Strong: How to Build a Sustainable Fitness Routine

Building a sustainable fitness routine is about more than just working out; it’s about creating a lifestyle that supports your goals. Whether you’re just starting out or getting back on track, a strong foundation is key. In this article we’ll explore how you can start strong and set yourself up for long-term success. By the end, you’ll know exactly why and how to build a sustainable fitness routine and achieve your most meaningful fitness goals.

It’s rare that I work with a new client who is starting from scratch. Most often, I work with women who have spent countless years jumping from Orange Theory to spin class to yoga-lates with few, if any, results left to show for it. They’ve often spent the same years (if not their whole lives), on and off a variety of diets but haven’t ever really learned the foundational elements of a solid fitness or diet plan.

They’re tired of it. They’re frustrated. Why put in so much effort if it never looks like they’ve put in the effort?

Here’s what I tell them:

You don’t have to be a contractor to know that when building a house, you pour the foundation before you paint the walls. If you do it right, that foundation will hold strong no matter how many additions you add, no matter how many times you replace the roof, no matter how many times you re-paint your front door.

Spend the time solidifying your foundation and you’ll be able to build a sustainable fitness routine that will last you a lifetime.

When it comes to achieving your fitness and health goals, starting strong matters.

Understanding Your Why

First things first: why? Why do you want to get fit? Change is hard – why pursue it?

Things like being able to see your abs or getting rid of the jiggle in your legs are valid reasons to want to get fit. I’m all for women wanting to get started because they want to look good naked.

But…

These goals are typically just scratching the surface of the real “why”.

When you dig deeper, you start to uncover some bigger motivators. I pulled these straight out of some client Strategy Session conversations:

• I want to look in the mirror and love who I see looking back at me.
• I’ve always had a horrible relationship with the scale – I don’t want to feel this way anymore.
• I’m scared that if I don’t make a change, I won’t be around to know my grandkids.
• I miss having any ounce of confidence in myself.

Knowing your “why” gives you a deep sense of purpose. It keeps you motivated when challenges arise (and they will arise). It gives you a reason to keep pushing yourself on the busy days, the vacation days, the holidays and the lazy days.

Creating a Routine That Fits Your Life

When you’re just getting started on your fitness journey, it’s incredibly important to make sure that what you plan on doing is realistic. You want to create momentum at this point – and the best way to do that is to commit to a schedule, an intensity and a routine that you can really achieve.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t challenge yourself at this point. You absolutely should. But the difference between overcommitting and underperforming, and committing to just enough so that you can nail it could possibly be the difference between failure and success.

For example: if you want to workout 5 times a week for 90 minutes a workout but you only have the time (realistically) right now to workout 3 times a week for 60 minutes a pop…commit to the latter.

Here’s how to find that balance:

• The Workout Plan: take a good hard look at your schedule. What do you realistically have time for? If you have 4-5 days, great! That allows for some flexibility. If you have 3 days, that’s fine too. In fact, that’s totally enough time to get some impressive results.
  
• The Timing: when do you like to workout? What time of day do you have the most energy? Are you a morning person? A night owl? Don’t try to reinvent the clock.
  
• The Steps: all of my clients have a step goal at some point (or all points). Some get up early and walk the dog for 30-40 minutes before work. Others schedule in 3-5 minute breaks every hour throughout the day. Others tack on some treadmill minutes after their workout. There’s no “perfect time”…there’s just YOUR time.

Fitness is fluid. What works today might not work next month. Shoot, it might not even work tomorrow! Be flexible. Have an if/then plan: “if I can’t get my steps in at lunchtime, I’ll go for a quick walk after dinner”. To get started and build a sustainable fitness routine, fit fitness into your life.

Staying Accountable

Accountability is crucial for consistency. And consistency is crucial for fitness success.

So…how do you stay accountable and maintain consistency to build a sustainable fitness routine?

Here are five highly effective strategies:

1. Keep workout/fitness journal. Seeing the proof of your hard work – and the growth that comes with it – is highly motivating.
2. Find an accountability/workout buddy – preferably someone who is nice, but not so nice that they won’t push you to keep it up.
3. Work with a coach.
4. Celebrate the smaller wins along the way. You don’t have to wait until you fit the “ultimate” goal to acknowledge your achievements.
5. Track your habits. It feels really good to get on a “winning” streak!

Starting strong and building a solid foundation sets the tone for your entire fitness journey. Remember: the key to sustainability is finding balance and enjoying the process.

Ready to take the next step? Sign up for a free strategy session to create a personalized fitness routine that fits your life and goals.