There’s a social media meme that’s made the rounds a few times, stating, “Over the past year, I’ve taken so many ‘before’ pictures of my body while telling myself I’m going to start working out, that I basically just have a slideshow of me getting fatter.”
The post was supposed to be funny. It wasn’t. The obesity epidemic continues to rise in our country and making jokes about how impossible it is to get healthy has become the norm.
But think about it: what if we each had a slideshow in our phones that highlighted our life’s journey?
Middle school, high school, college, 20s, 30s and so on.
What would that transformation look like for you?
At 10.40.10 Fitness, we’ve made it our mission to help people take back control of their health. Our community includes people with all different backgrounds, goals, and fitness levels. And no matter what your journey has looked like so far, we’ve got the plan to help you lose weight, gain strength, sleep better, improve confidence and more.
Your Physical Transformation: More Than a Before-and-After Photo
If you’re wondering how to start working out again after time away, the simplest place to begin is by looking at your physical health. But at 10.40.10 Fitness, we know it’s not just about workouts. Nutrition, mobility, mental health — they all factor into your long-term success.
Take a realistic look at your physical journey. Does it look like an extra 20 pounds? Fifty pounds or more? Many people don’t realize that just an extra 100 calories per day — five days per week — is 36,400 extra calories per year. That’s 10.4 pounds. Over the course of 10 years, it’s 104 pounds.
That escalated quickly.
But did it, really? Because if it took you ten years to gain 50+ pounds, why expect to lose it in two weeks? If you want to ease back into exercise and get lasting results, you’ll need to give yourself time — and a plan.
As a counter measure, you could eat nothing for a while. Don’t do that.
Your Mental Transformation: The Change You Can’t See in Pictures
If you’ve been through some challenges in life, it might not show up in a slideshow the way your physical transformation does. But the mental and emotional weight is just as real.
Was the twenty-year-old you a carefree person before life’s curveballs hit? Did your early-thirties self start to carry some heavy mental baggage? Now that you’re in your 40s or 50s, is the fresh-out-of-college version of you almost unrecognizable?
If so, give yourself some grace. Life is hard. But if you want to feel better, stronger, and more confident, you can’t ignore it. Part of knowing how to get back into working out is understanding that it’s not just about the gym — it’s about making yourself a priority. Because you can’t take care of others if you’re running on empty.
How to Start Working Out Again and Stay Consistent.
In the same way you can’t reverse 50+ pounds of bodyweight overnight, you can’t instantly drop years of mental and emotional baggage either. But you can start today — and that’s what matters.
Here’s how to start:
1. Take Ownership of Your Fitness Journey.
This is your life, your story, and your responsibility. To truly know how to start exercising again in a way that sticks, you have to own your past and decide you’re worth the effort.
Stop asking MyFitnessPal for the one-size-fits-all calorie equation. Stop asking your naturally-thin friend how she “just eats whatever she wants.” Your needs are unique, and you deserve a plan that’s built for you.
At 10.40.10 Fitness, we create personalized training and nutrition strategies that work in the real world — proven effective by hundreds of people just like you who wanted to return to the gym after time away.
2. Stop Waiting for the “Perfect Time.”
If you were going to start January 1st… how’d that go? Waiting for Monday, or for the holidays to pass, only delays progress.
The truth is, if you’re waiting for a perfect time to start working out again, it will never come. The best time is always now — even if it’s messy, imperfect and right before cookie season.
What if you worked hard enough the rest of the year so holiday treats didn’t derail you? What if you built the consistency that made skipping workouts feel stranger than doing them? That’s the kind of change we see every day in our 10.40.10 Fitness members.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
So there are the two steps: take ownership and stop waiting. Simple to understand, not always easy to do.
The good (and honestly amazing) news? You don’t need all the answers to start. If you’re unsure what workouts you’d enjoy, what foods fuel your body best, or how to stay consistent with workouts — we’ve got you.
Our expert coaches and supportive gym community will guide you through every step, from your first day back to your next major milestone. The hardest part is showing up. We’ll take it from there.
Ready to Start Your Comeback Story?
At 10.40.10 Fitness, we’ll help you rebuild strength, create healthy habits, and finally feel like yourself again — no matter how long it’s been since your last workout. Don’t wait for Monday. Don’t wait for January. Your stronger tomorrow starts today.
