Getting back to the gym after a long break often feels daunting, but once you’ve taken the first step to go back, you’ll soon find the swing of things again. It helps if you have a goal in mind and know what you are doing once you arrive at the gym. To make this transition seamless, set yourself up for fitness success with these tips.

Set Specific Fitness Goals

Goals are a great way to stay determined and challenge yourself. Specific fitness goals will help you stay on track and plan each workout session with ease. Remember, taking a break from the gym often results in a few steps back, as your stamina and ability to bench will decrease if you haven’t been using or training those muscle groups.

Bear this in mind when setting fitness goals that are attainable and measurable. Don’t set the bar too high, but make sure your goals are challenging enough that you get excited to work towards them.

Make a Plan Before You Enter the Gym

Have you ever walked into the gym and felt totally lost because you haven’t chosen what to do yet? To set yourself up for success, it is best to create a workout plan. This way, you can walk into the gym with confidence, knowing exactly what you are doing in today’s session.

It is a good idea to work in muscle groups, such as chest and triceps, or back and biceps. This will eliminate soreness in the whole body and make it easier to focus on different parts of the body each day. You can get tons of inspiration from exercise videos on the internet, or you may want to enlist the help of a personal trainer until you feel confident in the gym again.

Don’t Skip That Warmup and Cooldown

It can be easy when you are getting back into the gym to just go straight for the exercise machines and skip a warm-up and cooldown. No matter how long you have taken out of the gym, you are going to be hit with some muscle soreness, especially in the first couple of weeks. Some muscle soreness is definitely a good sign, but too much can make it difficult to continue with your exercise plan.

To reduce the chances of serious muscle soreness and discomfort, do a proper warm-up and cooldown before and after every gym session. If you are feeling very sore, light exercise can actually speed up your recovery time. Keep yourself hydrated too, as this will flush out any waste products released during muscle breakdown.

Take the Right Supplements

Supplements can be very beneficial in getting the most from every workout, so no matter how long of a break you’ve had from the gym, you can get back to your best form ASAP. Which supplements you need will depend on your fitness goals, whether this is bulking up or improving your stamina.

When looking at supplements, don’t skip a good pre-workout, as this can be beneficial no matter your specific goals. Pre-workout can increase your performance in the gym by boosting your power, energy, and stamina. If you are doing a lot of weight training, creatine and protein supplements are a great addition to your workout too.

If you are thinking about getting back into the gym after a long break, there is no better time than now to get started. Combat that initial nervousness by making a plan for each gym session and creating specific fitness goals that you can work towards. Don’t forget to take the right supplements to enhance your workouts and reduce any muscle soreness with an appropriate warm-up and cool-down.