How to Get in Shape Fast

Ahhh, the holidays are nearly here. WHAT? How crazy is that? This year has flown by it seems and we're almost back to square one.

We know it can be hard this time of year to stick to your goals, your fitness routine, your diet, and stay on track. We know that if you haven't met your fitness goals quite yet, you might feel a little behind in terms of reaching them. We know that if you haven't been giving yourself the care you need, it can be overwhelming if you don't know where to start. So, we're going to make it easy for you. We'll break it down & give you the nitty-gritty on some of the best equipment to snag to help you reach your goals.

There's always an overwhelming urge or desire to "get back on track" or "get in shape" when the New Year rolls around, and we want to give you a secret. We know how to get in shape fast.

This won't be your typical answer. No gimmicks, no tricks, no quick fixes, although when these things are combined, the results can come quite quickly depending on the effort you're putting into it all.

There's a few different pieces that make up this puzzle, but they aren't as hard or scary as they've been portrayed as in the past and current media surrounding "getting in shape." You don't need to go on any crazy diet, adopt an insane workout routine, or restrict yourself completely to a point of misery to reach your goals.

Anyone who tells you otherwise might not truly know the best way to "get in shape" and STAY there. Those outrageous practices might work in the short run, but we can guarantee that it's not the way for long-term and sustainable results.

Let's run through some of the basics.

Diet and Nutrition

When we say "diet," we don't necessarily mean a diet in a typical sense. The way this should be executed is going to vary so greatly from person to person, so we can't and will never tell you exactly how to go about this. But, what we can say regarding a "diet" is that consistency is key, choosing whole, mostly unprocessed foods works most often but it won't kill you to have a processed food every now and again, and prioritizing protein intake is huge. Focusing on your nutrition instead of a "diet" can be helpful for longterm success. That means that you're trying to increase the amount of nutrients per meal instead of just eating to eat and be satisfied.

Find something that works for you, your lifestyle, and your goals. This is easier said than done, we know. There's a plethora of good, credible information out there, but also a ton of not so great information. If you're really stumped when it comes to finding a diet that works for you, hiring a coach through any credible company would likely be very helpful.

The biggest thing to consider here is finding a nutrition plan that you can stick to, because a diet only works if you can follow it, and keep in mind that it's extremely difficult, if not downright impossible, to out-work a bad diet. Consistency is key.

Exercise

This is another aspect of getting in shape that is going to vary greatly from person to person. Maybe you enjoy heavy powerlifting style weightlifting, maybe you're more of a bodyweight or lightweight HIIT kind of person, or maybe you're just starting out in your fitness journey. Whatever your workout style might look like, it can be implemented into your new routine to help you get in shape.

It's easy to want to change everything you've been doing and try everything new when you've changed up your goals, but you can stick with your current workout routine for quite a while when combining it with a focus on nutrition. Changing everything all at once can be overwhelming and lead to burn-out, so taking things one step at a time will definitely help you stay on track to reach your goals.

Once you've stuck with your workout routine for a while and your results begin to plateau, you could consider changing up your workout routine.

The perfect way to do this is with a fun bootcamp package full of gear used in typical "bootcamp" type settings. Our bootcamp package contains everything you need to make your workouts fun and interesting, while getting you sweating, your muscles burning, and lungs and heart pumping. The bootcamp package is perfect for someone looking to intensify their workouts in the cardio department, which can be super beneficial when trying to get yourself in the shape you desire.

Make The Journey Fun

Here's where to good stuff comes in. The process of getting in shape can often be overwhelming and quite daunting, but it doesn't have to be. This process can be fun!

If you're someone who loves a challenge, it can be helpful to think of your journey as just that. Bring in the bootcamp package, y'all. It's a game changer and includes so many different pieces of equipment to help you make things fun.

If you're someone who loves to play games, think of your journey as something like a reality TV or game show, starring YOU, and you win pride, satisfaction, and reaching your goals at the end. How good does that sound?

Changing up your workouts every now and again, not all of the time, to include things you enjoy doing the most (and include less of what you don't) can keep things fun and fresh. This is huge! Keeping things fun and interesting can help when you reach a stale spot in your journey, but you'll likely see more results if you're training in a similar fashion from workout to workout.

Progressive overload works magically in producing results. This means that you're sticking with the same 3-5 workouts per week, pushing to increase weight from exercise to exercise, or increase reps within your sets at a similar weight from the week before. This works in a general weightlifting and bodybuilding sense, but if you're more into CrossFit, this will work, but especially so if you're focusing on a strength aspect each time you hit the gym. Otherwise, hitting your general prescribed CF workouts will work, too!

It's also more likely that you'll see success in your journey to getting in shape if you recruit someone else with similar goals to go through it with you. 

Consistency is KEY

Above anything else considered in your journey is consistency. Consistency is the truest, most important aspect of getting in shape. To see the results you'd like, you should be consistent in your diet and exercise. Now, this won't be the shortest journey ever, but if you truly give this process your all, it's likely you'll start to see things change quickly.

Make sure you're choosing a diet and exercise routine that is sustainable for you, and don't make changes too quickly if you aren't seeing the results you want right away. Good things take time, and this is one of those things.

Get To It!

For a lot of us, the hardest part is just taking the leap and starting. You've thought about your goals for quite some time, and the longer you continue to long for something different, the harder it becomes to actually go for it.

In this case, here's what we recommend: 

1. Write down your goals. It helps to write them down on paper, send them out into the universe, and keep your mind focused on that goal. Leave your handwritten goal somewhere where you can see it everyday for a reminder of why you're doing what you're doing when the going gets tough.

2. Have a plan in mind. Choose your nutrition plan, choose your exercise routine, and write those things out too. This process is a lot less overwhelming when you break it down piece by piece.

3. Prepare for your journey. Meal prep, get your workout equipment set up, and make your workout environment your own. Choose fun, motivating music that makes you want to get after it and push yourself.

4. Have fun with it, and don't be too hard on yourself. The real trouble lies in the doubt and discouragement that can creep up when you're not seeing results you want. Look, these things aren't going to change overnight. Slow and steady wins the race, and it's true in this case too. Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's going to take a while to sculpt your dream bod. Keep at it.

5. Log everything. Your nutrition intake, your water intake, your workouts and the weights you've used, time you took to complete workouts, everything. What gets measured gets managed, and what gets managed brings change. Keep your eyes focused on you, your goals, and the steps you need to take to get you there.

In the words of the great, wise and hella strong Ronnie Coleman, "Ain't nothin' to it, but to do it!"

We hope this was helpful, Fringe Fam. We know you can reach whatever goals you put your mind to, and we're here for you along every step of the way. We've got the tools to help you reach your goals, no matter how big. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions about your journey! We'd love to help.

As always, lift heavy, lift happy, eat well, get results :)