If you are ready to make that commitment towards getting healthy and losing weight, you'll need to come up with a fitness plan that works for you. While it's great to set really high goals, it's all too easy to become discouraged and give up if you can't reach them. In order to build a fitness plan that is going to work for you, you'll need to keep the following considerations in mind.
1. What are you physically capable of handling?
If you are just starting out, there is no way you're going to be able to run a marathon. Instead of setting sky high goals, try for the more reasonable ones. For example, start with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every other day. This makes it much easier to begin and you run much less risk of being disillusioned.
2. What type of exercise fits your personality the best?
If aerobics make you homicidal, then don't pick this type of plan. It's all too easy to give up if you're ready to wring your instructor's neck. If you like to keep to yourself, try spinning instead. If weight lifting is more your scene, don't waste your time on exercises you won't be interested in. The key is finding what fits you, not forcing yourself to fit into something.
3. What will your schedule allow?
It is all too easy to claim that you're too busy to exercise. Work can get in the way, but there are ways around this. Don't schedule your exercise for parts of the day that you won't be motivated to keep. For example, if you are not a morning person, an exercise plan that starts at 7am every day is not for you. It's just too much to ask to reinvent your whole life. Pick a time that is convenient and you'll be much less likely to skip it.
4. What exercise do you enjoy?
It's pretty easy to say none, but there are creative ways that you can exercise and have fun while you're doing it. Try a couple of different methods and see which ones you enjoy the most. Then, stick with those, at least at first, so that you'll be able to stay motivated.
5. Find an exercise buddy.
We can always shirk off exercise time when it's just us, but if you have a committed buddy, it gets a lot harder. Just make sure that your buddy is really motivated. It won't do you much good to pick a partner in crime, since the temptation to cheat will be too high.
Once you have figured out what type of exercise is right for you, start slowly. You can't climb Mount Everest today! Start small and then gradually add in more time each. As you start to see the results, you'll be more motivated to keep going. If you fall, get back up again and start over. By sticking with your plan, you will get results.
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activities, alternative ideas, exercise, goals, motivation
Tags:
30 minutes, aerobic exercise, aerobics, exercise plan, exercises, fitness plan, losing weight, marathon, morning person, personality, risk, weight lifting, whole life
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6 comments ↓
Useful, succinct summary. Thanks. And remember, muscle tissue gets in shape much faster than connective tissue.
I love th accountability partner as well…not someone who necessarily worksout with you—-but who knows your goals.
These are great ideas, very well detailed and organized. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome list.
Even if you do not find an exercise buddy, having support is still important rather it is that spouse cheering you on or that co-worker that ask about your workouts. Surrounding yourself with health conscious people really is motivating.
[...] you are finding it difficult to stay focused on your exercise plan, there may be a few problems. First, you may not be doing the exercise that is best suited to your [...]
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