90% of people quit their workout plan after the first three months because they didn’t prepare properly. Many people head to the gym or start exercising at home with the idea that they want to lose weight or want to get healthier.
However, many of these people don’t set goals beyond that. This sets them up for failure because without reasonable short-term and long-term goals, they get discouraged easily.
In this article, we discuss setting fitness goals, diet and exercise, and more. With this guide, you can start developing a workout plan you can feel dedicated to. Continue reading to find out how to stay committed.
Table of Contents
1. Consider Your Level of Fitness
Before you can create a workout plan, you need to decide what kind of shape you’re in. You can do this by trying out certain exercises and see how many repetitions you can do or how long you can endure a workout.
For example, plan on running or walking a mile and see how long it takes you. Also, be sure to check your pulse before and after. This will give you an idea of your fitness level in aerobic exercise, but you can also check your flexibility and muscular fitness as well.
Your body mass index (BMI) is another tool you can use to assess your health level. Though this is just a guide and not an actual measurement of your fitness level.
Once you have an idea of your level of fitness, you can start setting fitness goals. As you do this, consider these other recommendations for improving women’s health.
2. Set Your Goals
Meeting your goals is one of the best parts of working out, but in order to meet your goals, you have to set them. First, it’s important to understand your reasons for working out.
Do you want to lose weight? Are you looking to build muscle? Do you just want to lead a healthier lifestyle?
These are all valid reasons that will help you in setting fitness goals. However, make sure your goals are realistic. Otherwise, you set yourself up for failure and will have trouble staying committed.
Some examples of healthy goals are to drink the recommended amount of water every day or get 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. These are important parts of overall health and will actually help you in your fitness goals. Plus, these goals are more attainable than goals like losing 5lb in the first week.
3. Get Your Equipment
Whether you’re exercising at home or at the gym, the right equipment matters. The kind of equipment you have is part of determining the kinds of workouts you can perform. However, this doesn’t mean you have to invest in an entire home gym or top-of-the-line fitness wear.
While dumbells and fitness bands are popular for at-home exercises, there are plenty of workout plans that don’t require any gear at all. There are also plenty of common household alternatives to workout gear if you’re on a budget.
4. Set a Weekly Workout Schedule
Setting a weekly workout schedule can help you stay accountable. Just like with your goals, setting a reasonable schedule is important. Doing too much too soon can lead to burnout and can prevent you from reaching your goals.
Allow yourself days off and don’t try to fit in too many sessions in one day. Also, don’t forget to factor in your other commitments. Plan your rest days on days where you have less time to work out. That way you won’t feel guilty about not doing it if you run out of time.
Having a plan will keep you on track. It’s especially important while you’re getting started. Once you have a set routine that you’re comfortable with, you can afford more flexibility.
5. Select Your Workouts
Selecting workouts ties into setting fitness goals and assessing your fitness level. You have to choose workouts that will help you meet your goals, but also that you can reasonably perform.
If you aren’t sure what workouts are appropriate, hire a personal trainer. A trainer can teach you what workouts are best for your goals. They can also introduce you to new fitness equipment at the gym if that’s where you decide to work out.
6. Consider Diet
Diet and exercise go hand in hand when trying to live a healthier lifestyle and you need both to be truly successful. However, diet is not a one-size-fits-all solution.
For example, a bodybuilder’s diet is going to be different from a diet that’s aimed at weight loss. By combining the right diet and exercise combination, you’re going to see the best results. The right diet should also help boost your energy for your workouts.
7. Monitor Your Progress
After you’ve determined your fitness level with your benchmarks, keep track of how you progress. Some people think tracking progress means measuring your waist or the number on the scale, but there are other measurements of success.
For example, keeping track of how many push-ups you can do or how fast you can run a mile is a great motivator. While keeping track of your weight may be important to you, it’s not the only (or even the best) measurement to track in your workout plan.
Get Started on Your Workout Plan
Creating an effective workout plan means more than just going to the gym or buying equipment. It means you understand your wants and your needs and decide what reasonable goals to set for yourself.
Don’t overlook the value of working with a professional. If you hire a trainer, they can help you set reasonable goals if you aren’t sure where to start. They can also teach you what workouts are best for your goals.
For more great ideas relating to health, head to our health blog.