Welcome to Day 12! Are you ready to get moving? I hope so because today we are going to be talking about creating an exercise plan. Have you ever enter the following words into your browser “the right fitness plan for me”?
If so, then I’m sure may have been absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of information (and misinformation) that flooded your screen.
Fortunately, choosing the right plan for you isn’t too complicated we just need to consider 3 things:
First, we need to get specific about your fitness goals. They need to be clearly defined. If you have multiple goals, put them in order from most to least important. This means that if you want to lose 10 pounds and become faster, and stronger; make one a priority and chose a plan that focuses on that.
Secondly you’ll need to be honest with yourself and your Physical Limitations. You will be able to immediately cross a few fitness plans of your list if you take a close look at what the plan involves. If you have back or joint issues, you may want to avoid plans that are based on explosive movements and high-impact exercises.
And lastly, now that you have your fitness goals, and your limitations defined, it’s time to select what plan is the best fit. Here are a few options:
- Steady State Cardio- This is suitable for weight loss, overall health improvement and those with joint issues. It also gives you a lot of time to yourself due to its longer workout times (40-60 minutes). Jogging, spinning, swimming, steppers, and rowers are all good choices for steady state cardio.
- High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)- HIIT training is perfect for individuals that have goals ranging from weight loss, developing lean muscle, sports improvement, and improving their health. It can be completed in short amounts of time (as little as 4-minutes). However, due to its fast and high-impact nature, it may not be ideal for anyone with joint issues. Performing HIIT on an exercise machine may alleviate joint stress.
- Strength Training- If your goal is getting stronger, looking better, and/or developing lean muscle mass, then strength training could be what you’re looking for. It can be tailored to fit just about any physical limitation or schedule. Even if you’re unsure of lifting weights at first, most people find that they enjoy strength training.
- Organized Activities- Playing in a sports league is great for those that are competitive and/or enjoy the company of others. Dance, running groups, spinning classes, recreational sports leagues (softball, basketball, etc.), and martial arts are just a few of the many activities that are available. You can certainly find one that will fit your fitness goals, keep you motivated, and bring you a lot of enjoyment.
Most importantly, Stay the Course! Again, be honest with yourself. If you go into your new fitness plan you should expect that you will fall of course a time or two. This is completely natural and is to be expected. Some days will be great and others, not so much. Stay the course and don’t give up.
With a little planning and research, you will surely find a fitness plan that’s right for you. Make sure it’s realistic for you to participate in and know what your goals are. Following the right fitness plan will make exercise something you want to do, instead of something you have to do.
So jump on over to your exercise book and let’s get a plan together to get you moving towards seeing your fitness goals come to fruitation.