Spring is about rebirth. People feel surges of energy during this time. So it’s no wonder why my personal training business increases in the spring. I want to talk about the craziness I experience during the springtime madness.

I have some suggestions to help you safely get into shape. Think about your end goals. What are they? Some people want to lose weight and others want to get back into their outdoor sports, while others need to build strength for yard-work.

Don’t dive in

Whatever you are gearing up for, make sure you start modestly. Number one mistake is jumping right into hard work. I hear about so many injuries and pain flare-ups because people do not have the patients to build up their strength and endurance. Most people during the winter have very different exercise habits and routines. For example, a biker will practice cycling indoors during the winter to keep their body in good working condition. Then, when the weather breaks, they return to the outdoors. The first few rides outside will feel different. The legs will be sore from riding outdoors because the environmental conditions are very different.

Couch potato to marathon runner?

If you haven’t been doing much activity during the winter, please do yourself a favor and take it slow, and ask a professional for advice. You would not prescribe yourself medication without consulting a doctor, so if you have a fitness need, ask a certified personal trainer before diving into a routine.

No Carbs allowed?

If you want to lose weight exercise is just the beginning. Take a look at your diet. Don’t do some crazy crash diet, eliminating foods you eat regularly, like carbs. Why can’t you eat carbs? I see it all the time. People are successful in losing weight, but eventually, go right back to where they started. I call the body weight fluctuation, the yo-yo diet. Going up and down all the time can cause damage to your organ and your body. Stop being so compulsive. Eat healthy food and stop overeating.

Do you Ignore your body?

Another common issue is getting into a fitness routine that isn’t working for your aging body. If you want to get back into running but your body doesn’t feel good doing it. STOP! I understand you want to do activities you once were able to do. However, you need to take some time to try new fitness routines and exercises. Emotionally it’s not easy, but you can still live a healthy lifestyle doing activities that can keep you away from surgery.

Your challenge this spring is to pay attention to what your body needs. You will know because you will feel amazing. Exercise and healthy eating don’t need to feel like a punishment.