Oct 01, 2019

What to Expect When You Start Working Out for the First Time

There are a lot of new changes when you make the commitment to start exercising. More like there are a lot of things to get used to. Some things are awesome and amazing. While some things are scary and frustrating. All in all the main thing is, DON"T STRESS! It takes time to adjust to the effects of working out. Some things will fade away as your body gets stronger and better conditioned and the positive things will stick around. Knowing what to expect can help you stay on track and keep you motivated. Remember, patience is key on this long never ending journey. Give the results time, trust the process and let the small wins along the way help motivate you to keep going! 
 
Here are a few things you will probably run into at the beginning of you fitness journey. 
 
1. You're Gonna Feel Sore.

One of the biggest myths in fitness is that muscles soreness from working out is due to lactic acid build up in the muscles. This is just not true. True muscle soreness form working out is due to tiny micro tears in your muscle fibers. Then your body rebuilds those tears and that's what makes them stronger. But, this process can leave you feeling sore. However, expect this DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) to last two to three days. Also, you don't have to be a novice to working out to experience DOMS. Experienced lifters get them as well. However, it can be a bit more intense when your body is brand new to exercising. You can blame this on your nervous system. When you are new you nervous system is not efficient at recruiting muscles, but as your body learns how to move more efficiently as you keep exercising your nervous system adapts. Good news though. There is something called the repeated bout effect. Basically this means after you end up sore your body will recover and adapt your muscles to protect them from the next time around. So hang in there!

 

2. You Are Hungrier Than Usual.


It is totally normal to be super hungry after starting a new exercise routine. It's not just your imagination. You are burning way more calories that your body is probably used to and it is looking to refuel. This is something that differs person to person. So, if you do find your self hungrier than normal, there is no need to ignore it. Make sure you are making good choices with your fuel. A solid post workout snack with a good balance of protein and healthy carbs can help keep your hunger levels at bay.

 

3. There are Going to Times You Want to Quit. 


It isn't always sunshine and rainbows on your fitness journey. There are going to times when you want to throw in the towel. No matter how motivated and dedicated you are, there will be setbacks and plateaus. However, fitness isn't about having a perfect or clean record. It is about consistency. Keep moving forward no matter what even when you aren't seeing the results you wanted. This is why it is important to have a positive support system around you. A coach and facility that care about your goals and will hold you accountable is a great way to help get through the rough times and come out on top! You don't have to do it on your own!

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By Ray Cattaneo 07 Feb, 2024
Andrea has been at IPT since July of 2023 and has been the definition of consistency! She always makes adjustments to her nutrition and exercise when needed and pushes herself in workouts every single time. Each month she exceeds her goal of losing body fat mass, and has lost a total of 24lbs of BFM since joining! She's able to chest press 25 lb dumb bells and can do a full pushup without any assistance now. You can really see the difference in how Andrea carries herself and the confidence she has now compared to her first day at IPT. She completely transformed her life for the better!
By Ray Cattaneo 03 Nov, 2023
Rey has been here since early June & has never missed a session! He's on-point with his tracking for nutrition and always does his cardio. He has hit every goal since he started and has lost 49.6 lbs of body fat mass and gained 3.8 lbs of skeletal muscle mass. Down from 48.9% BF to 36.6% BF. The health of his knees has improved drastically and he continues to have an exceptionally positive attitude!
By Ray Cattaneo 02 Aug, 2023
Hi, my name is Dylan and I’ve been at IPT since December of 2022, and my fitness habits have greatly improved since then! Since I started at IPT, I’ve been consistent with all of my workouts at the gym, my workouts outside of the gym, and my nutrition. I’ve lost 13.2 pounds of body fat, and have gotten stronger and faster with every session. My training at IPT has helped me to throw a no-hitter this baseball season as well as decrease my 40 yard sprint time!
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