In my last post I discussed how you can kick start your diet in the New Year. Today I’m going to be completing the series and discussing how to make this year your fittest one yet by following The Free Fitness Tips New Year Fitness Action Plan.
1) Choose Exercises That You Like
One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking to improve their fitness in the New Year is that they see it as a burden rather than something they can enjoy. As a result, they jump straight in and start going through the motions, doing an activity that they don’t really like. They then quickly lose enthusiasm and end up quitting way before they achieve their fitness goals.
The good news is that there are plenty of different exercise options available and if you take the time to look at them all properly, you can easily find some that you like. For example, if you’re a fan of more traditional exercise options, exercise classes, working out at the gym and swimming are all good choices. If you’re a sporty person, then taking up your favourite sport is a perfect way to keep fit. If you prefer exercising outside, cycling, jogging and walking are all excellent choices. If you’d rather workout in the comfort of your own home, bodyweight workouts, workout DVDs and even fitness themed video games are all great ways to do this.
So, before you actually start exercising, take the time to think about what you enjoy doing and then base your workouts around that. By doing this you’ll have much more fun as you work towards achieving your fitness goals and be much more likely to stick with them.
2) Make Sure You Incorporate Cardiovascular & Resistance Training
Once you’ve chosen some exercises you like, you then need to make sure that the exercises you’ve selected will improve both your your cardiovascular fitness and your strength. If not, you then need to modify your workouts slightly, so that you’re targeting both these areas.
Doing this isn’t difficult and if you get creative, any exercise can be modified so that it improves both your cardiovascular fitness and your strength. For example, jogging is a cardiovascular exercise but by stopping at regular intervals and performing perform push ups, squats and other bodyweight exercises, you can build strength in all your muscles. Weightlifting is a resistance based exercise but by performing some lighter sets at a faster pace with more repetitions, you can get your heart pumping and target your cardiovascular fitness too.
So, whatever exercises you have chosen, make sure they’re giving you an effective cardiovascular and resistance based workout and if they don’t, get creative and modify them so that they do.
3) Decide On Your Best Times To Workout
After you’ve chosen some exercises you enjoy and made sure that they enhance both your cardiovascular fitness and your strength, the next step is to decide when you’re actually going to do them. No matter how effective or how enjoyable your workout routine is, if you don’t make it part of your schedule, you’re much less likely to follow through with it.
To fit your workout into your schedule, start by deciding how many times per week you can realistically workout. For example, if you have two very busy days during the week where it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able fit a workout in, four workouts per week is a realistic number which also gives you some flexibility, should something come up during the week.
Once you know how many times per week you can realistically workout, then decide which time of day is best for you. For example, if you’re not a morning person, working out in the evening may be the best choice for you. However, if your energy levels tend to lapse during the evening, getting your workout in first thing may work better for you. Alternatively, if you have a block of free time in the middle of most days, a mid-afternoon workout may be optimal.
4) Have A Backup Plan
After you’ve completed the three steps above, the only thing that’s left to do is formulate a backup plan. Life is full of unexpected events and even with the best laid plans, things can come up that prevent you from working out in the way you had planned. For example, you may be kept behind at work and miss your pre-planned evening workout or your gym may be temporarily closed at short notice which means you no longer have access to your preferred workout location. Therefore, it’s essential to have a backup plan.
To formulate your backup plan, start by looking at your list of preferred exercises and come up with some alternatives. For example, if your preferred exercises are gym based, try learning a few bodyweight exercises that you can do at home, just in-case you can’t make it to the gym. If outdoor exercises such as cycling and jogging are your favourite, consider getting an exercise bike or treadmill for the days when the weather is really bad.
After you’ve come up with your alternative exercises, then plan in a couple of alternative days or times that you can workout. Then if something unexpected does come up and makes you miss a pre-planned workout, you can still fit that workout in at another time during the week.
Summary
One of the reasons many people fail when it comes to improving their fitness in the New Year is that they don’t make a plan that’s right for them. Instead, they copy what other people are doing, quickly lose their enthusiasm and then quit. With the The Free Fitness Tips New Year Fitness Action Plan you can formulate a plan that’s right for you, enjoy your fitness and achieve all your goals. So, if you haven’t started already, get some exercises chosen, put together your workout plan and make this your fittest, healthiest year to date.
Now I want to hear from you guys. How do you go about improving your fitness in the New Year? Are there any important tips missing from this article? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Also, please Like, +1, Pin and Tweet this post, so that as many people as possible can use it to kick start their fitness this New Year.