I’ve probably spoken with more people in our community about their fitness routine than all the other studio owners in the neighborhood combined.

And what I hear at this time of year – end of summer/back-to-school time – pretty much stays the same from year to year.

People tell me they want to get a “fresh start” with their fitness.

But what does that really mean?

In order for someone to get a “fresh start,” this implies that at some point along the way, they stopped.

And while that’s not ideal, it happens.

So if you’ve fallen out of your routine, it’s best to just own it, come up with a simple plan to get started again, and move forward.

Don’t dwell on the past.

Don’t beat yourself up.

Ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can do today in order to get back on track?”

Then, do that thing.

It doesn’t have to be a 3-hour workout.

In fact, if you’ve been inactive for a bit, it probably shouldn’t be.

Here are some ideas to help you get started again:

10 Push-Ups A Day: Sometimes, even the thought of a 10-minute workout can be daunting if you’ve gotten out of your routine. But could you do 10 push-ups today? Could you do 5 before breakfast and 5 before lunch? That’s a start, and you can always build up from there.

8 Cups Of Water: If you’re looking to get back into a fitness routine, start simple. Fill your water bottle in the morning and make sure you drink it before lunch. Then, refill it after lunch and finish it before dinner. You’ll be surprised by how much water you can consume if you make it a habit and keep it simple.

2 Meals With Protein: Protein is the building block of lean mass, and you need a steady supply of it throughout the day in order to be at your leanest. The more lean mass you have, the more fat you’ll burn. So identify the meal that most often lacks protein and make a decision to add protein to that meal. 

You see, it doesn’t have to involve a crazy level of commitment or activity to get a fresh start with your fitness routine. Start small, keep it simple, and celebrate your victories. Before you know it, you’ll be back on track.