When I first started working out, I had a very simple plan of attack - do something, anything. I was thirteen years old, and feeling a little overweight, I came up with a home workout routine that wasn’t exactly complete, but it was a start. Everyday I would do one set of jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-ups, wall sit, and dumbbell curls.
It was not exactly an elite workout, but it was something, and something was better than nothing. As I learned more about working out for different goals I became more and more confused. Eventually I learned that when planning a workout routine you have to keep it simple.
The key to achieving our goals is to map them out on a yearly, monthly, weekly, and even daily basis. Make sure that your goals are specific and attainable, and think of your weekly workout routine as your weekly workout goals.
These 5 tips will help you to choose and achieve those weekly goals:
- Tip #1 - Balance the checkbook. Make time for strength training, cardio, and rest. Neglecting even one component can spell disaster for your fitness goals. A simple and effective way to take care of this is 3 days of resistance training, 3 days of cardio, and 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
- Tip #2 - Set a specific time of day for your workouts. It’s easy to miss a workout when we leave it to chance, but we can stick with it much easier if we have a specific time. It also helps if others know your workout schedule. My favorite time to workout is in the morning because then I have the rest of the day to fill with all of my other activities.
- Tip #3 - Remember other responsibilities and plan accordingly. From one week to the next we have events to attend that we didn’t attend the last week. If on one day your workout time is interrupted, you may be tempted to skip it all together. However, if you know ahead of time then you can schedule to get your workout done before the event.
- Tip #4 – Make sure to plan on having fun. We don’t always look forward to every workout, but planning some fun can change that. If you get bored of the same old workouts all of the time, incorporate alternative forms of exercise. Martial Arts, Tennis, Racquetball, Basketball, and group classes are all ways of getting a good workout while avoiding monotony.
- Tip #5 - Progress at a nice and steady rate. It’s important to make sure that you’re challenging yourself, but you don’t want to burn out. A new week is the optimum time to increase the difficulty of your workouts. How you choose to do that is up to you. There are many options including adding weight, adding sets, or adding reps, but just don’t add too much too soon.
By following these tips, your weekly workout routines will slowly but surely improve your health and fitness. Remember that it takes time to get really good at something. Health and fitness is no exception. When we work out and eat healthy foods our bodies learn how to become more efficient at everything. As a result, our skin is clearer, our eyesight is better, and we have more energy. Your quality of life is definitely worth the extra focus and attention.
Article by: Jake Long
