The advantages of keeping your body fit cannot be overstated. Starting a fitness routine may be one of the healthiest things you can do. Physical activity can help you lose weight, reduce your risk of chronic disease, improve your balance and coordination, and even enhance your sleep habits and self-esteem. There’s even more excellent news. In the following steps, you can develop an efficient fitness routine.
1. Determine your level of fitness
First and foremost, you must assess your degree of fitness. You’re undoubtedly aware of your level of fitness. However, testing and documenting baseline fitness scores can provide you with a baseline against which to monitor your development. Consider recording the following when assessing your aerobic and muscular fitness, flexibility, and body composition :
Your pulse rate before and after walking one mile (1.6 kilometers)
The number of conventional or modified pushups you can accomplish at once.
How far forward you can reach when sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you
The circumference of your waist, right above your hipbones
BMI (body mass index)
2. Create a fitness program.
It’s simple to claim you’ll work out every day. But you’ll need a strategy. Keep the following points in mind when you build your workout program:
Consider your fitness objectives: Are you embarking on a fitness routine to help you lose weight? Or are you motivated by something else, such as training for a marathon? Setting specific goals might help you track your progress and stay motivated.
Create a balanced routine: Prepare a well-balanced routine that moderates any physical activities you wish to engage in. This implies that you should spread out this workout over a week. Short bursts of activity throughout the day can add up to bring health benefits.
Start slowly and gradually: If you’re just getting started with exercise, start softly and gradually. Consult your doctor or an exercise therapist if you have an injury or a medical condition for assistance in planning a fitness program that progressively increases your range of motion, strength, and endurance.
Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine: Finding time to exercise can be difficult. Schedule exercise time like you would any other appointment to make it simpler.
Try high-interval intensity training, which involves performing short bursts of high-intensity activity followed by recovery periods of low-intensity activity.
Allow for recovery time: Many people begin exercising with passion, working out for too long or too intensively, and then quit when their muscles and joints get uncomfortable or injured. Schedule rest and recovery time between workouts.
Put it down on paper: A documented strategy may help you keep on track.
3. Assemble your equipment
You’ll most likely begin with athletic sneakers. Make careful to choose shoes that are appropriate for the activity. Running shoes, for example, are lower in weight than more supportive cross-training shoes. Consider fitness apps for smart devices or other activity tracking gadgets, such as those that can track your mileage, calories burned, or heart rate.
4. Start now
You are now prepared to take action. Keep the following suggestions in mind as you begin your workout program:
Begin slowly and gradually: Allow enough time to warm up and cool down with easy walking or mild stretching. Then accelerate to a pace that you can maintain for five to ten minutes without becoming exhausted. Increase the amount of time you exercise gradually as your stamina improves.
Pause if you experience pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea. You might be pushing yourself too hard.
Break things up if necessary: You don’t have to perform all of your exercises at once, so you can include activity into your day. Shorter but more frequent sessions offer similar aerobic advantages. Exercising in short bursts throughout the day may work better for your schedule than a single 30-minute session. Any level of action is preferable to none at all.
Be creative: Your workout program may involve a variety of activities such as walking, bicycling, or rowing. However, don’t stop there. Take your family on a weekend trek or spend an evening ballroom dancing. Find activities that you enjoy incorporating into your exercise program.
Be flexible: If you’re not feeling well, allow yourself to take a day or two off.
5. Keep track of your progress.
Take your fitness evaluation again six weeks after you begin your program, and then every few months after that. You may realize that you need to increase your exercise time to continue developing. Or you might be pleasantly delighted to discover that you’re exercising just enough to accomplish your fitness goals.
Set new goals or attempt a new hobby if you lose motivation. Exercising with a friend or attending a fitness facility class may also be beneficial. Getting into a workout routine is a big step. However, it does not have to be overpowering. By carefully planning and timing yourself, you may create a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.
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