If you're starting your fitness program, it can be confusing to know what to do. If you're strength-building, do you go heavy with fewer reps or go light with more? You want to spend your time maximizing results and not be counterproductive. Here are some tips for working out for beginners that people in Winter Haven, FL, found beneficial. The first is simple. Start by becoming more active. Increase the activity in your daily life to prepare you for more strenuous workouts.
No matter what your initial workout is, focus on form.
Even if you're starting out walking, form is still vital. Stand up straight and avoid leaning forward or backward. Keep your eyes forward with your chin parallel to the ground. Relax your shoulders and hold them back. Tighten your core and keep your pelvis in a neutral position, neither forward nor backward. You probably never thought of how important form was when you walked. Now, transfer that to traditional exercises. You'll benefit from learning the proper form first, even if you only do a few exercises initially. Focusing on your form helps prevent injury. Taking it slower keeps you from overdoing it and developing muscles too sore to exercise for a while.
Write out your goals and how you're going to achieve them.
To get the results you want requires you to know what you want. You must identify it to write out steps to achieve it. Instead of saying, "I want to lose weight," you need to note how much you want to lose and pick an achievable timeline. For example, losing two pounds a week is doable, so saying you want to lose 50 pounds in 25 weeks fits that description. You then can create a plan. Include diet and exercise in that plan for weight loss.
Make your fitness protocol part of your daily schedule.
Change how you think about exercise. Consider your workout time an appointment you must keep. Schedule it at the same time each day. That helps it become a habit. It becomes as automatic as brushing your teeth or taking a specific exit to get to work. Put your workout on your calendar. When making plans, don't even consider canceling it for another function. You wouldn't cancel a doctor's appointment to go to lunch with a friend, would you? Consistency is the key to success.
- Include all types of fitness in your workout: strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Vary your workout instead of focusing only on one area, like running for endurance.
- Don't compare your progress to anyone else's. Men lose weight faster than women. People who were previously fit get back into shape quicker. Always compete with yourself for improved results.
- Hold yourself accountable. Most people can't do that. Having a workout partner helps. Our personal trainers hold people accountable, and one reason personal trainers are so beneficial.
- Always track your progress. Track your workout, recording sets and reps. Record your weight and measurements along the way. Use medical statistics like blood pressure if you're exercising for health reasons.
For more information, contact us today at Habitat Health & Fitness
