So here we are in 2020 – the year you were going to get fit and feel great. How’s that going? If you’re like many of us, you were excited to race to the club on January 2nd and try every machine and sign up for a couple of classes. We love that ambition, but want to make sure those workouts are safe and successful. To get the most from your routine and accomplish those 2020 goals, it’s important to understand the basics.
Set Your Goals
You should always decide what your goals are and how much work you’ll put in to achieve them. Start by writing them down, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in the fancy workout journal you got for Christmas or if you scribble them down on a spiral steno pad that’s been in your desk for years. Here’s the thing: goal setting has to be measurable. Don’t just state you want to lose weight. Be specific. “I want to lose 10 pounds by March 1, 2020.” And it has to be attainable. If you said you wanted to lose those 10 pounds by your birthday and your birthday is a week away? Not attainable.
When Will You Work Out
Time is that four letter word we all love to hate. You know we all have the same 24 hours in a day, yet you always seem to run short of time. Your co-worker seems to have so much more of it than you do. How is that possible? Start by looking at your schedule. You have your work day, your family and social functions, and you need to sleep. But still, there is a block of time that is unscheduled. Free time. This is when you need to schedule your workout. This is important stuff. It deserves to be on your calendar.
Do you know how much time you need? If you are new to this, maybe not. You may want to schedule your first block of time with a trainer. Or maybe you already know what to do and how much time it takes to do it. In that case, get on it.
Take advantage of knowing you are either a morning or evening person.
Where Will I Go
Do you already have a health club membership? Are you going to work out at home? If you are undecided, think about the following:
– Do you know what to do? Do you need advice or instruction?
– Do you live in a convenient location near a fitness club? Are the hours convenient to your schedule?
– Do you have the appropriate equipment at home? Can you work out there without distraction?
– Are you able to stay motivated and on track to reach your goals?
Sometimes it’s comforting to know you are working out with like-minded people and there are experienced professionals to help tweak your plan or really change it up when needed.
Tracking
You’ve made your list of goals, you have scheduled your workout, you’ve decided on the club you are going to, and you have your planned routine in hand. Now you need to develop a checklist to track your activity. Most trainers recommend a couple of days rest in a 7 day week. Scheduled…check. Upper body workout…check. Cardio…check. A checklist is a great way to make sure you are meeting your goals, gives structure to your workout, prevents over or under-training, and can avoid burnout.
All those lofty goals may not seem so lofty after all if you are able to incorporate a few of the basics. And those basics: What, Where, When, and a bit of record keeping, will assure you start the year strong and finish successfully. Arriving at your club with a plan will help you achieve your goals and will leave with a sense of accomplishment and a smile on your face. (People are going to wonder what you are up to….)