Think about the last time you made a goal to exercise more. Was exercise the actual goal? Or was exercise a means to reach another goal, like losing the holiday weight? Once you had your goal, how did you develop your program? Did you come up with your plan beforehand, or did you rely on a quick Google search or pull out your old go-to work out? Designing an exercise plan is complicated. There are hundreds of options available online, trainers at every gym and all the quick fix articles you need. How do you pick which one will work for you? The quick answer is you don’t fully know until you try it! But there are ways to help narrow down the selection. Many times, we are focused on the exercise and not always focused on our goals. How many times have you heard “I am going to start going to_____? I had a friend do it and she said it would be great for me,” instead of “I really want better balance, and I should find a few ways that would help with that.” Here are a few simple steps that will help you figure out what kind of program you should choose:
- Think about the end result first. If you make the changes, what will happen after 3 months? Your workout should be based on what you want to work towards, not the exercise.
- Pick a skill you want to develop. Not all training is equal. Some skills will get better just by pushing yourself, but others take practice. In fitness, these are the 10 skills that most programs will focus on.
- Cardio: These skills will improve with training, even if the training is in a different mode. For example, you can develop the skills you need for running by training on the elliptical.
- Stamina, strength, and flexibility
- Coordination: These skills need practice specific to the movement you want to train.
- Accuracy, agility, and balance
- Power: This skill requires both training and practice.
- Speed
- Next, pick exercises that are specific to the skill you want to improve.
- Lastly, and most importantly, decide whether this program will work for you. All of us are different and more importantly our bodies react differently. Make sure that the program works for you, both physically and mentally. Does this fit your schedule? Do you enjoy the program? Do you see the results you want?