GOOD MORNINGS EXERCISE FIVE
Four tips to get back into the gym
1. START LIGHT
Chances are that you haven’t lifted weights in a while, with gyms closing in December, it may be up to six months since you last lifted a dumbbell! So the first point is to remember to start light. Whatever your PB is – you’ll need to work up to up. Picking up where you left off is just not going to happen, so whatever you do, start light and build up.
2. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN'T DO AT HOME
If you enjoy the gym and exercise is part of your daily routine then you have probably been doing workouts throughout lockdown. This isn’t the time to leave them behind, but heading back to the gym is a big step so you might want to stack your gym visits with a couple of home workouts while you adapt to your new mornings (remember, sustainable approaches not all at once!). Because of this, it’s best to focus on what you can’t do at home, so if you feel the need to not leave the house while you adjust – you have plenty to do that isn’t already covered for the week.
3. DON'T SET EXPECTATIONS
Taking breaks in training are necessary for muscle recovery, but long breaks can really take you off track if you have certain goals. Whilst we’re advocates of planning, for the first few sessions you need to treat the gym as a reset session; so goals and expectations can wait until you’re completely warmed up and back in the flow.
4. RECOVER PROPERLY
If a travel to the gym (however short) is now part of your morning routine, you may be tempted to save time by not stretching properly. It is better for your body to reduce your work out by ten minutes to make sure you stretch; you’ll see better results (and far less down time) this way.
