Beginning or Getting Back Into Fitness with Hybrid Athlete

Note from Cara: I’ve just started getting back into fitness the past 6 months or so. When my children were babies I did some T-tapp, lots of walking with a double stroller, but not anything really strength building.  Childbirth, lack of sleep during the baby period, and breastfeeding can all lead most moms to slow down with fitness and spend a period of time focusing on their baby. This will be up to the individual, I didn’t really feel ready to start working out with weights or doing anything that broke much of a sweat until my youngest weaned. Now I’m up to using a 45 lb kettlebell twice a week, swimming about a mile twice a week, and am half way done with the Couch-to-5K program.  It feels great.

Getting back to fitness, or getting in shape for the first time if it’s never been your thing, is empowering and has many benefits such as better moods, increased energy, better sleep, just overally feeling strong, and a great outlet for when you feel antsy.  I’m in love with fitness now, and I wanted to share that with you but I don’t feel qualified to give out fitness advice.  I heard Hybrid Athlete on a podcast and the are really awesome knowledgeable down-to-earth guys that know what they’re talking about!

Do me a favor and click over to check out their site right now, they have tons of stuff for free, videos that show you what you need to know, and an awesome attitude. And then read what Anthony has to say below.

Do you know the secret to getting in shape?

I will give you a hint; it’s doesn’t have anything to do with a diet plan, a gym membership, or a flashy fitness program. If you’re trying to get fit, the most important thing you can do is figure out a way to make your workouts work for you. Since we all know that we should be exercising regularly, the question becomes why don’t we actually do it? That’s simple; because we all have responsibilities outside of the gym. So we’re left to try to make sense of every ‘get fit fast’ diet and exercise program that promises results that we know are too good to be true. There’s got to be a better way!

You’re exactly right; there is a better way. It’s unrealistic to have to schedule your day around your workouts. And it’s even more ridiculous to spend hour after hour in the gym every day. The real secret to success – making your workouts work for you – is all about simplifying fitness so you can get better results in less time. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

Simplifying Fitness, Delivering Results

1. Goals – What does fitness mean to you? Do you want to live longer, look better, stay active, or be more competitive? It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as you know what you are trying to achieve. Only then can you begin to structure your schedule and priorities around your desired outcome.

2. Start now – So you’re not an Olympian; well neither am I. But, that doesn’t mean we skip out on exercising altogether. Showing up is half the battle, and the trick is starting where you are. Walking leads to jogging, which will eventually turn into running. Body weight exercise is the gateway to more advanced forms of strength training. Get started today and aim for progress, not perfection.

3. Essential Equipment – If you’re looking to get fit or maintain a strong and lean body you can workout at home, with little or no equipment. First, bodyweight training is great for everyone, regardless of exercise ability or experience. You can create a bodyweight only plan or supplement your current training plan with bodyweight exercise for a well-rounded approach to fitness.

If you’re looking to up the intensity and calorie burn a bit, give kettlebell training a try. Kettlebells are one of the most effective and versatile pieces of exercise equipment in existence. Using the kettlebell swing, it’s possible to train strength and cardio at the same time, with one piece of equipment at-home or outside. I know, it does sound too good to be true, but kettlebells deliver on the hype.

4. Take Action – Alright, now that all of the pieces are in place, it’s time to talk programming. That’s just a fancy way of saying when you’ll workout and what kind of exercises you’ll be doing. Remember, the plan is to keep things simple. I don’t know about you, but I don’t get paid to workout – I want to look good, feel good, and have more energy. If that sounds like something you’d be into, there’s a plan for you so keep reading.

5. Keep It Simple. If you’re looking to get fit or maintain a strong and lean body, you can workout at home, with no equipment. Combine bodyweight exercises with yoga and cardio activities like walking, running, hiking or biking. Plan for three days of training each week, where each session lasts 15-40 minutes. Schedule training sessions for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Complete a full body workout Monday and Friday, and get some cardio in on Wednesday.

6. Stay Active. When you’re ready to step-up your training you can use a few pieces of equipment at home, or in any gym, to improve overall fitness. Stick to body weight, dumbbell, and kettlebell exercises. Make total body movements like squats, lunges, and kettlebell swings a priority. The more muscles you use, the more calories you will burn. If possible, try for four to five workouts each week that last 30-60 minutes. A good baseline would be to aim for training sessions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Two sessions would be strength focused, while the other two will be used to train cardio.

What do you think; can you use any of this information to make working out work for you? We covered a lot and there is even more info out there. So, if you have any questions leave a comment or tweet at me and like our page on Facebook, It would be my pleasure to help!