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5 Questions to Consider When Starting a Workout Routine

April 10, 2015  |  By: Whitney E. RD

Summer is coming — aka the second most popular time to reassess your workout regimen (the first being New Years obviously).

Whether a special event has sparked your motivation, or simply the prospect of sporting a swimsuit in two months time, you need to kickstart a new routine and you need to do it fast.

I’m here to help.

There are a handful (five to be exact) things to take in to account when beginning a new fitness plan. Answer these questions, start your new routine, and you should be ready to rock your itty bitty bikini by June.

5 Questions to Consider When Starting a Workout Routine

1. What do you like to do?

I constantly hear people talking about what they should and shouldn’t be doing. “Ugh, I should have gone to the gym this morning. I should be doing yoga. I shouldn’t eat this quarter pounder.”

Life shouldn’t be about making yourself miserable with activities you don’t enjoy. Choosing an exercise you like to do will significantly increase the likelihood that you will stick to it. If you don’t like yoga, you shouldn’t be doing it. Love running? Get it girl.

Don’t force yourself to do an activity because someone told you it’s the best way to get in shape. The best way to get in shape is to be consistent and choosing an enjoyable exercise routine will ensure that you are.

As for the quarter pounder though, you actually shouldn’t be eating that on the reg. Sorry.

2. Where do you like to do it?

Back to the preference issue, don’t force yourself to exercise in an environment that you don’t enjoy. Think about the atmosphere that makes you excited to workout.

Perhaps you think you don’t like running? In reality, maybe you don’t like running indoors on a treadmill. Get outside!

Maybe the opposite is true. You need more stimulation when you exercise. Head to the gym and turn that treadmill TV to The Real Housewives of New York (did you hear Bethenny is back?!). That should get you in your groove.

Other things to consider – do you like loud, fast-paced workouts or do you prefer a quieter, more introspective vibe? Your answer will dictate the type of studio that can accommodate your tastes. Who knows, maybe your own living room is the best spot!

3. Are you prepared?

Do you have the right gear for this new routine? If you’re just doing bodyweight exercises in your living room, then yes, you probably do. But if you’re headed to a fitness studio or trying a specialized kind of exercise, you may need new gear.

Before you get the yoga mat, hand weights, biker shorts, band, or any of the multitude of other equipment you could purchase, get a good pair of running shoes.

I really love the new Puma® Ignite kicks.

I test drove these babies this week and they are beyond comfortable. With their new foam technology across the midsole and heel, these shoes perfectly form to your feet and provide stability and durability, no matter what activity you’re doing.

They’re made for running so they are especially good at distributing weight on impact, but I’ve found that they’re also great for strength and circuit training, or simply taking long walks around my neighborhood with Mr. Chow.

4. Do you have a support system?

Having friends and family who are aware of (and support) your new routine is essential. Not only is it more motivating when you have a buddy to workout with (mine is Mr. Chow frequently), but it also just helps if people know you’re trying to get in shape — so that they don’t try to sabotage your efforts!

If, for example, your man knows you’re serious about slimming down for summer, he may not try to persuade you to skip your workout and watch Mad Men with him instead.

Or your gal pals may choose to be supportive and suggest a hike instead of a froyo date. Scratch that, how about hiking and froyo — a healthy compromise!

5. How will you keep track of your progress?

Without a proper system to track and evaluate your efforts, you won’t really know if (or how much) you’re improving. Set clear cut goals and then come up with a way to stay on top of them.

There are free apps you can download on your phone like Lose It to track your food intake and exercises, and activity trackers like Moves to track your steps. I use both regularly.

Also, simply keeping a journal can help with accountability.

I hope you found these questions helpful, and that you’ll use them to guide you if you’re looking to start a new routine this summer.

I’ve certainly found them beneficial as I’ve strived to up my fitness game with my wedding coming up in less than two months!

Weigh In: What factors do you think are important to consider when starting a new fitness routine? What do you think is the most essential athletic gear?

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of PUMA.