Fitness journey

If you are like most people, you may have a hard time scheduling a fitness plan that works for your body and your schedule. Getting and staying in shape is vital for your health and well being. Try these tips to help ensure your workout plan is suiting your needs.

Consider a Coach

If you are just beginning on your fitness journey, consider consulting an expert to help start you off on the right track. Because every body is different, a professional fitness coach can help you determine what type of workout plan will yield the results you are looking. Fitness coaches range from general personal trainers, to more specialized areas of fitness such as trainers in beach body programs or experts in nutrition. Consider your health background and your personal fitness goals to research programs that will help you achieve your desired level of fitness.

Differentiate Your Routine

Too often, adults make the mistake of focusing only on one area in their workout plan. It is important to incorporate both aerobic activities like running or biking and muscle-strengthening activities like weight lifting into a workout plan. Unfortunately, only 20% of adults meet the CDC’s standards for these physical activities. Try to change up the level of intensity of your workouts too. It is beneficial to raise your heart rate several times a week with vigorous-intensity workouts, such as sprints or climbing stairs. You will know you have reached vigorous intensity in your workout when your breathing makes it hard to carry on a conversation. Also do some activities at a moderate intensity level, such as walking at a brisk pace — about 3 to 4 miles per hour — on a level surface.

Pick a Schedule that You can Stick to

Many times, people looking to get in shape start off with a bang and workout diligently, but may become burned out after few weeks or months. It is important to consider your daily schedule so you can commit to a workout plan in the long run. While programs or fad diets to loose weight quick may be appealing, only 20% of people can lose weight and keep it off with these type of systems. In the long run, it is daily exercise that will ward off health risks like cardiovascular illnesses, type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome. If you can’t commit to setting aside a solid chunk of time for physical activity, consider cutting it down to shorter sessions. For example, take three 10 minute walks throughout your day to add up to the recommended 30 minutes of daily activity.

If you have any questions or advice about developing your own workout plan, feel free to share!