Written by: Jill Witte, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Nowadays, it is hard for someone who is new to exercise to choose the best way to get fit. It feels like it should be an easy question to answer, but it really isn’t and can be very overwhelming. Between family and friends, exercise styles and diet fads, social media influencers, and the internet, who do you believe? Here is what I tell people when they ask me what is the best way to get in shape.
I ask the person if they are interested in group fitness classes or do they prefer to work out on their own. Sometimes finding a group fitness class is a good way to get into fitness because you will have the encouragement of other people to help you get through class. Plus, you can make new friends who can help give you the motivation to go to class. I recommend finding a class that you can try for a month. If you like the class, you can continue it, but if you don’t, you don’t have to renew it for the following month. Also, look for a gym or community center (YMCA or JCC) that has both classes and a gym so that you can do weight lifting or cardio. If you are not interested in group fitness classes then find a gym where you are comfortable. Gymtimidation can be a real thing, especially when you walk into a gym and see people who are shredded and lifting heavy weights. Honestly, most of the time, they don’t care if you are a novice. They are just there to work out. Once you find a gym you want to be a member of, I recommend asking if they have an orientation so they can show you how their equipment works. If you are working out for the first time, take a few sessions with a personal trainer so you can have proper form. It is hard-working off of fitness apps because they don’t always show proper form, and you want to avoid getting injured. There are so many fitness apps and social media influencers that it can be hard to know what exercises are the best. I have seen posts where an influencer will write, “do this exercise over this other one because it works the muscle the best,” or they start with “I see this mistake in a gym often,” and then the influencer proceeds to show how to do the exercise correctly (their version of how the exercise should be done). Usually, when I see posts like the ones I have mentioned, I will read the comments and some do agree with the influencer, but most people will disagree with them, saying how they did the exercise wrong and telling them which exercise is better. People will also comment they are new to the gym and don’t appreciate knowing that other people are “spying” on them and judging how they work out, which doesn’t help with having gymtimidation. The other types of
comments I see are also from new people trying to get fit. They say they are confused on what to do because the type of “best” exercise to do is always changing and they just want to do what's best.
Try every exercise that interests you that you find on the internet, and a social media influencer suggests, or even that your friends and family may recommend. When trying the exercise, keep in mind any injuries or other health issues that may prevent you from doing the exercise properly. The form is very important, and if an exercise is not done properly can exacerbate an injury.
When it comes down to it, the “best” exercise for you is what works for you and your body.
Jill Witte, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jill Witte, is the founder of True Fit Balance. She is a personal trainer who is certified as a Senior Fitness, Cancer Exercise and Clinical Exercise Specialist. Jill also has certifications as a Nutrition, Brain Health and Life Coach. She created True Fit Balance because of her past experiences of trying to find what exercises and foods worked for her. Now, Jill helps her clients find what works for them by connecting the brain, body and nutrition to create a healthy balanced body. Jill also hosts "Can You Relate Fit and Health". A podcast were she talks with people about their stories of overcoming injury or illness.
