subject: 5 Steps To Setting Your Fitness Schedule [print this page] 5 Steps To Setting Your Fitness Schedule 5 Steps To Setting Your Fitness Schedule
If you're like most people, you've probably realized that saying you're going to work out and actually working out are two different things. While working out can help you to lose weight, it is a good idea to develop a fitness schedule so you can focus on staying healthy. Setting a fitness schedule is kind of like having a personal trainer because when you see your workouts written down, you will feel more motivated to follow through and reach your fitness goals. Here are 5 ways to develop a successful fitness schedule.
1. What do you like? It is a well known fact that no matter how great your fitness schedule is, you won't follow it if you don't like the exercises that you've chosen. For this reason, it's important to figure out the types of exercises you like doing. Do you love to swim laps? Are you a yoga-aholic? Whatever your favorite exercises are, make sure your fitness schedule is filled with your ideal exercises.
2. Where to workout. Some people love getting up every morning and going to the gym, while others shudder at the thought of leaving their house just to exercise. It really doesn't matter where you workout, it just matters that you get it done. So if you decide to workout at home, make sure you have an area where you can workout uninterrupted. If you decide to workout at the gym, decide if you are going to workout before going to work or after you're off for the day. Or, if you want you can switch back and forth between your house and gym. When you write down these details on your fitness schedule, you will feel that you have more direction as a result you will have more success.
3. Decide on days. Although we all have busy schedules, it is important to set specific days to workout and stick to those days. When you "wing it" when it comes to your workout schedule, you will be more likely to slack off and find excuses to skip. Of course, it's ok if you deviate from your fitness schedule every now and then, but you don't want to make it a habit.
4. Pick your time. While it is true that you will feel more motivated to workout on certain days, you want to make sure that you decide how long you workout on average. Maybe you want to start out with 20 minutes a day and work your way up to 30 or 45 minutes. Be sure to write your projected exercise time on your exercise schedule, you will feel accomplished when you reach your time goals.
5. Listen to your body. Of course your main goal for setting a fitness schedule is to follow it as closely as possible; however, you have to listen to your body. If you wake up and you are feeling unusually tired or sore, your body may be telling you take a break. Remember that it is better to take a day off than to push yourself too hard and risk getting an injury that might force you to stay out of the gym for a week.
