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How to Avoid Becoming a
Fitness
Failure
İRick DeToma
When it comes to fitness, no one likes
being a failure, yet more than half of
new exercisers quit their program within
the first six months. With a little help
you can ensure you're not one of them.
Give these ideas a try as you begin your
exercise program for the new year.
Set goals
If you don't know where you are going,
how will you know when you get there?
Setting short-term and long-term goals
may increase your chance of success.
Your goals must give a clear picture of
the end-point to work towards. Use the
SMART model, your goal should be
Specific, Measureable, Attainable,
Realistic, and Time-bound. Without these
you’ll never know if you have achieved
the goal. You can’t just say "lose
weight or gain energy." Instead say, "I
will lose 10 pounds in 12 weeks by doing
strength training 3 times a week and
cardio 3 times a week."
Go for variety
Whether you do a home workout or belong
to a gym, build your routine on
cross-training to keep things fresh and
interesting, and keep yourself from
developing an injury. Frequently vary
the order of your exercises and mix in
dumbbells, barbells, resistance tubing,
machine or body weight exercises. Don't
be afraid to take a class.
Track your progress
Write down your measurements and weight
at the beginning of your program. Keep a
workout log and use it. Seeing results
is a great motivator. At least once a
month, re-measure and review your log to
see advances in your aerobic fitness,
strength, flexibility and body
composition.
Seek out support
A workout partner with similar goals and
a positive attitude can make your
workout more fun. knowing you are
accountable to another person can be a
great motivator too. So can working with
a certified personal trainer.
Devise a backup plan
Time and access are the largest
obstacles to fitness, and even devoted
exercisers experience lapses. Don't use
these as excuses to avoid exercise.
Having some portable home workout gear
like a stability ball, resistance
tubing, jump rope, and dumbbells, will
allow you to work out while traveling,
at home or even at work. With limited
time, focus on compound movements for
the largest muscle groups and superset 2
for opposing muscle groups. A brief but
intense workout can be accomplished in a
few minutes.
Just do it
While pumping iron may not be right for
everyone, the idea being active is. Find
something you enjoy doing that elevates
your heart rate and challenges you most
days of the week. Also pay attention to
how you feel. If you are like most
people in as little as three weeks you
will find yourself sleeping better and
feeling more rested.
The information contained in this
article is strictly for informational
purposes and is not intended to provide
medical advice. If you are sedentary or
over 40 please get clearance from a
doctor before starting an exercise
program.
About the Author:
Rick DeToma is a fitness coach, and
trainer who specializes in home
workouts. Contact Rick for a no
obligation telephone fitness assessment
at: http://www.tailored-fitness-home-workouts.com
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