Ready to start an exercise program? That’s great, but there are several steps you must take if you want your exercise regimen to be successful.
1. Schedule your preparation for exercise, There are two elements you should consider before starting an exercise program. The first is your physical preparation. The only way to determine whether you are physically ready for exercise is through a medical exam. Tell your doctor that you want to start a fitness program and that you want to be sure that you are healthy enough to start. The second consideration is your mental preparation. In particular, you should consider how likely you are to stick with an exercise program once you start. Research has identified several factors that are related to long-term success including previous exercise experience, high self-confidence regarding exercise, positive attitudes towards exercise, awareness of the positive health benefits of exercise, support and facilitation from family and friends. The more factors you have in your favor, the more likely you are to have success with your fitness program.
2. Focus on increased activity, not a formal exercise program, You don’t need to engage in vigorous physical activity to increase your fitness level and improve your overall health. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine emphasizes that 30 minutes of moderate physical activity (eg, walking, golfing) on most days is sufficient to realize significant health benefits. While this won’t prepare you to run a marathon or ride the Tour de France, you will reach a higher fitness level than a sedentary person. You’ll feel better too.
3. Choose an Exercise You Actually Enjoy, Maintaining a long-term exercise program is highly correlated with enjoying that program. If you don’t enjoy your fitness routine you will almost certainly quit! So, make sure you choose activities that you really enjoy. Remember, you have many activities to choose from such as walking, cycling, running, weight lifting, rollerblading, dancing, golf, handball, tennis, racquetball, basketball and many more.
4. learn how to exercise safely, One of the biggest reasons exercise programs fail is injury. An injury may involve significant damage to muscle tissue such as a sprain or relatively minor muscle damage that manifests in pain. Either condition can reduce your motivation to exercise. So, whatever activity you choose, make sure you learn how to do it safely and do it with ease, especially in the beginning.
5. exercise with others, Boredom is another common reason exercise programs fail. One way to overcome this problem is to exercise with friends. It provides many benefits including a sense of camaraderie, a positive social experience and the ability to push each other to higher levels of performance. Remember, for this to work you’ll need to find an exercise that all participants can enjoy, and you’ll need to accommodate varying degrees of fitness.
6. participate in organized fitness programs, A great way to motivate yourself is to participate in an organized fitness program. On any given weekend, there are literally thousands of fitness programs, competitive and non-competitive, geared toward a wide variety of physical activities. These include swimming, climbing, bicycling, hiking, running, walking, rollerblading and racquet sports. Pick an activity you really enjoy and participate with a friend.
7. be prepared for setbacks, No matter how successful you are with your fitness routine, you will experience setbacks. There will be missed workouts, days of bad eating, and plateaus where you can’t improve. Don’t worry about it! Setbacks are inevitable, so recognize that they will happen and don’t get discouraged. Focus on getting back on schedule as soon as possible.
Source by Tyrone Holmes
