If a job is worth doing, then it’s worth doing well. It’s an old truism that certainly applies to your workout. If you want results, then you’re going to have to put the effort in to get them and if you want to make sure your efforts aren’t in vain you need a plan.
Here’s how to create the plan that will deliver the results you want:
Diet
Yep, it’s not just about the physical work you need to put in. Get your diet right and you’ll have the fuel you need to power through your workout. Aim for a balanced intake of all the essential nutrients your body needs to help increase your performance and avoid injury. You cannot afford not to address this; it’s a vital part of your plan.
Goal
You also need to consider what your aim is. Are you trying to lose weight, work on your shape, tone up or maybe work towards a sporting goal such as a marathon? Set out some targets to help you achieve your goal and then break them down into smaller chunks so that you can see how every last second spent in the gym contributes to your overall plan. Take measurements and pictures at regular intervals so that you can see the progress you’ve made.
Calendar
It is also vital to get your schedule properly planned. Make sure you set aside enough time to achieve your workout goals by putting regular dates in your calendar. Keep it varied to help you stay motivated by taking in time at the gym, exercising at home and other activities such as sports or jogging and split sessions across different days and times of day. By making a conscious effort to earmark time for your workout you’ll ensure that other things don’t ‘get in the way’.
Variety
That variety is also crucial when it comes to the nature of your workout. Split your time between strength work with weights to build up your muscles, high octane cardio to burn off the fat and abs reps to help your body look toned and beach-ready. Rotate between exercises that work on your core, bum, legs and arms to spread the results right across your body.
Regular
An effective workout should become a habit and part of an active lifestyle if you are to succeed. Look to get in 45 minutes to an hour every day to foster the right mentality. Don’t try to go for much longer than this though or you’ll burn out.
Warm up/down
Don’t feel tempted to skip the warm up or warm down. Without this you’ll put yourself at risk of injury and that can scupper your efforts in the long term. You can’t ‘cheat’ and get the results you want from your workout – you must do it properly.
Ab challenge
Focus your efforts by taking on an ab challenge. These can be a great way of concentrating the mind and delivering strong results in double-quick time. These challenges fit in perfectly with your active regime.
