How to get started.. a beginners guide

How to get started...

Taking the first step is often the hardest. Looking at your current life situation, you feel the need for a change but it can be difficult or confusing to know how to turn this into real actions and get going!

Here are our top tips..

1. Find your activity
   It sounds simple, but often isn't - and that's where we can help you. Do some research, talk to friends, talk to organisers, partcipants, and go and see the activity in action, and make your choice. It should be something that excites you, provides a positive burst of energy and motiviation.
   
   
2. Go to see your doctor..
   I know….. you don’t like going… you don’t need to go… you can’t afford the time.
   
   But go and get checked out. If you get the all clear, then great, but also if you find something now you may just have saved yourself from a bigger problem later. 
   Most forms of exercise will ask you to sign a personal waiver that specifically asks if you are fit to take part in exercise.
3. Tell People about it.
   People you know, friends, family, Facebook - start to share your thinking and you will mainly get support and encouragement. In most sports there is an active community, helped by all of the social media channels, and people love to stare their experiences and passion.
   Hire or borrow if you need equipment so you're not spending un-necessarily until you're certain this is the thing for you.
4. Find a training partner or a club If you can.
   Find a friend to start with or ask about finding a training partner who can helo you on your way, share transport or walk together to the venue - you are more likely to stick with it if you are in a pair or small group and with many sports, you'll find you can open up a whole new social circle.
5. Set yourself REALISTIC goals.
   Setting goals can help your motivation, as long as they are achievable and realistic...
   We'll cover this in more detail in another post.. SMART Goals
   
   If you can resist the temptation, I recommend you Do NOT set a strict weight goal. Worrying about your weight, or just focussing on just losing weight as a target can lead to more stress and disappointment. If you start doing exercise or an activity your body will change, your shape will likely change and your metabolism will start to work to compensate for this. Weight loss or gain is quite personal and has a myriad of factors that basic numbers do not account for..
   My advice is to take down key body measurements (waist, chest, hips etc) and make a note of your weight when you start, and then hide the scales for at least a month!
6. Set a date for your first session and commit to your new adventure!