Many of us can relate to being unhealthy and out of shape. It might be that you’ve never made your health a priority or that you’ve lost sight of the last time you made a resolution to get in shape. Whatever your starting point and whatever the reason, each of us shares that desire to get in shape fast once a decision has been made to focus on your health and fitness goals.
How fast can you get in shape?
We live in a microwave society. We tend to think “30 seconds or less” when we think “fast.” Even when our food is heating up for just 30 seconds in the microwave, we rush to hit the cancel button to shave off a couple of seconds at the end. I joke with my husband that it’s like he’s diffusing a bomb just before it goes off! Having access to this almost instant gratification in many aspects of our lives has negatively impacted our collective mindset. Most of those things that offer us the greatest benefit and reward take time and dedication.
When it comes to your health, you will receive more benefits if you exercise regularly and for longer periods of time. At 6 to 8 weeks, you will notice some changes, but in 3 to 4 months, you can count on a significant overhaul in your health and fitness. The good news is that even if we’ve spent years neglecting our health, we really can turn things around in a matter of weeks or a few short months!
See A Difference In 6-8 Weeks!
It’s encouraging to know that you can develop a strategy, put in the effort, and start seeing a difference in just 6-8 weeks. You will be the first to notice the differences. Then, if you dedicate just a bit more time, others may also start to notice significant improvements within 3 to 4 months.
Step 1: Healthy Weight Management
Hitting the gym might seem like the first thing to do when you’re ready to get in shape fast. However, if you have unhealthy fat weight to lose, weight loss is likely the best place to start. If being overweight is affecting your endurance and coordination, it’s especially important that you focus on healthy fat loss prior to starting a vigorous exercise and muscle-building routine.
The risk of injury increases with the loss of movement and coordination. This doesn’t mean you cannot start a workout routine. Rather, it would be wise to adapt your routine to accommodate your level of fitness. Being at a lean, healthy weight is the first step to getting in shape fast.
Step 2: Maintain a Walking Routine
Sometimes big, bold, aggressive moves might seem like the way to achieve a result quickly. However, it’s more important to develop healthy routines that will be sustainable for your entire life. If you don’t already have a walking routine, it is an excellent starting point.
Walking is something that you can do for weight loss, fitness, and overall wellness. An intentional walking routine is something that you can sustain, even while you’re doing more aggressive workouts. Walking can help you maintain a healthy weight, healthy motion, and a healthy mindset throughout life. Intentional walking and staying in motion are the foundation for getting in shape fast. A walking routine also helps you focus on exercise and motion that is sustainable and consistent versus aggressive and short-lived.
Step 3: Strength Training
Weightlifting might be step one for you when it comes to getting in shape fast. If you’re at a lean, healthy weight and you’re already physically active, it’s time to start lifting weights. Strength training helps boost your metabolism in two ways. Building muscle increases your metabolic rate, meaning you burn more calories, even while resting.
Strength training will also be the biggest factor, outside of fat loss, in changing the appearance of your physique. Remember, a smaller body doesn’t necessarily mean an “in-shape” or healthy body. When you have a physique that has been well-trained and is strong and muscular (yes, even for women), you reap both the physical and mental benefits. Having a muscular or toned body is a major confidence booster. Lifting weights consistently will give you the biggest return on the investment of your time spent getting in shape. A well-rounded strength training routine will give you results in the first 6 weeks and has the potential to transform your body after a few months.
No matter your fitness level, if you’re looking for a workout routine to get you going, start with the Step-By-Step Fat-Shredding Workout.
The Bottom Line: Keep It Simple And Focused
Getting in shape fast doesn’t need to be complicated, and it doesn’t mean you need to spend your life at the gym. You may need to make some more aggressive moves at first to get your nutrition and fitness in order, but implementing things that you can reasonably sustain will be the quickest route to getting in shape fast.
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