5 ways to kickstart your fitness journey with PureGym

Is 2026 your year to lock in? From food prep and finding a workout you enjoy to tracking your progress and looking after your mental health, getting started can feel overwhelming. Whatever your fitness goals, making a plan and building a steady routine is the key—and PureGym is here to help!

Ease into a new fitness routine and find something you enjoy

New-year motivation is amazing, harness it! But, the routines that are easiest to stick to are realistic—you don’t have to go 100mph in the first week of January. Have fun trying something new, start easy and work your way up to a plan that fits your lifestyle.

So, what’s your thing? PureGym has tons of facilities to help you find your flow. Classes like Zumba, Box Fit, Pilates and Cycle make working out with others fun, high-quality equipment in the free weight areas can help build core and muscle strength and there are even running clubs. The flexible membership means you can try what you fancy and stick to what you love.

Focus on brain food and fuelling your body well

Meal prep doesn’t have to cost the earth (or require umpteen Tupperware containers). High-protein staples like eggs and beans will help to fuel your exercise, and frozen veggies are rich in nutrients and vitamins for staying healthy—all without breaking the bank.

Batch cooking makes meals easy to grab after a long day of lectures, and keeping healthy snacks in your uni bag means you won’t grab expensive lunches on the go. So, turn up the tunes, follow an easy recipe, and you might just find that this meal prep thing is actually pretty fun.

Start with the ‘low-skill’ wins

Social media can make us feel like we have to have everything figured out before we even step through the door of a gym—form, macros, intensity, recovery, even our own goals. For the first week, stick with the ‘fixed-path’ machines, like the stepper or the treadmill. They guide your movement and track your progress so you get a good idea of your baseline fitness.

Unsure how to use something? Just ask! The fitness experts at PureGym are there for any advice you might need.

Plan ahead, but stay flexible

Decision fatigue is real and motivation can come and go—especially on low-energy days! Pack your gym bag the night before so it’s one less barrier to getting moving. Consider the uni-to-gym transition, going straight from the library to the gym is much easier than going home and trying to get back up from the sofa.

Being a student can mean living between home and uni. PureGym’s flexible student membership means multi-gym access, so you can work out where you’re currently living. With discounted membership and £0 joining fees, flexibility is the name of the game.

Be kind to yourself—it’s a journey

Fitness works wonders for your mental health and stress management, too. Even if things aren’t going to plan, know that you’re doing the best thing for your overall health.

If you’re not feeling it, start with the 10-minute rule: tell yourself you only have to stay for 10 minutes; if you want to leave after that, then go. Usually, when those endorphins kick in, you'll be happy to finish! And, you’re still building the healthy habit of showing up. Missed a day? That’s fine! The rest is just as important as the grind.

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