Took an exercise break and having trouble getting back into it?

Here’s how to reset your workout routine, according to experts.

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woman sweating in the gym

a strength and conditioning coach and physical therapist

Even if its a few weeks off, all is not lost.

The first workout back will feel tough, but most people regain their fitness relatively quickly.

You wont be totally back to square one.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

This is not to say that taking a break is bad.

In fact, I highly recommend it.

Give yourself some grace if youve fallen out of the workout habit, this is a very common situation.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Even if its a few weeks off, all is not lost.

Carol Mack, DPT, CSCS

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Yet its common because people feel like they need the intensity of an all-or-nothing approach.

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Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

For coming back tostrength training, she advises doing a circuit without weights, so youre using bodyweight only.

This will help engage your muscles again without the kind of stress that comes with overdoing it.

Staying motivated is much easier when you enjoy what youre doing, Elmardi says.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Also, if you try different workouts, you might find a new one that you love.

It can help create momentum not only into that due date, but also beyond it.

If you try different workouts, you might find a new one that you love.

Reda Elmardi, CSCS

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Often, the rest and recovery can be great for your fitness and gains.

Give yourself some time to build back up and really focus on form and control.

You may even be stronger in the long run thanks to that time off.

Track your progress and celebrate milestones

Once you do begin again, prevent future delays by establishing consistency.

For that, Elmardi advises tracking details of your workouts, including how you felt after exercising.

By acknowledging these advancements, it makes activity more interesting and helps you monitor your progress, he says.

Most of all, it sets up accountability and responsibility for yourself, and keeps your motivation going.

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