How to Get Fit After Lockdown

The UK has had COVID restrictions for a really long time now. Many of us have put our fitness goals on hold since gyms have been shut and we’ve fallen out of our usual routines.

The restrictions are being lifted gradually over the next few months and with gyms opening again soon, you may be wondering how to get back into shape after such a long time. It’s natural that you’re going to be feeling a bit rusty, so don’t fret! 

We’re here to help you get back on the right track. The main aspects of getting fit are motivation, diet, workouts, and rest. So, we’re going to refresh your memory on getting those 4 aspects down to a tee.

Motivation

Motivation is one of the most important parts of getting fit. Seriously! If you don’t feel motivated to workout, chances are you’re either not going to work out, or you’re not going to exercise to your full potential.

There are a number of things you can do to help yourself get motivated, including getting a gym buddy, listening to uplifting music, and cutting back on alcohol. You can read more about getting motivated with this quick guide to gym motivation by Fitness Warehouse.

It can also help to set realistic, short-term goals. If you set goals that are too long-winded or are a little pie in the sky, you may begin to feel like you’re not making much progress. It’s great to have long-term goals, but don’t neglect the short-term ones. 

Diet

Your diet has a huge impact on many of your body’s functions, and fitness and food can really complement each other. Once you’ve set your goals for getting back into shape after lockdown, make sure you have a diet to match.

For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, aim for a high fibre, low fat diet, curbing your intake of refined sugar, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates. On the flip side, if you’re trying to build muscle, aim for a diet rich in protein, healthy fats, and concentrated sources of carbohydrates.

Workouts

Of course, the workouts you do will make or break your fitness after lockdown. The workouts you do will depend on the goals you want to achieve, but there are lots of different exercises you can try to get back in shape. 

For example, power bands are brilliant for agility training, treadmills are great for burning belly fat, and using chin up bars and weights are excellent for building upper body strength. Find out what works best for your personal goals and start there.

Rest

Love them or hate them, rest days are essential. They give your body a chance to heal itself, repairing muscles and preventing workout-related injuries. Also, if you overtrain, you can experience insomnia and burnout, and your overall performance can begin to plateau. With that in mind, make sure you take plenty of rest days.

It has been a long time since we’ve been able to workout at the gym. So, if you’re feeling a bit daunted about your post-lockdown fitness, be kind to yourself. For more fitness inspiration and tips, take a look around our blog page.

Gym Gear is a retailer of top-quality fitness equipment for both commercial gyms and home gyms, including gym flooring, free weights, and studio gym equipment.