While there are a number of excellent approaches to improving your fitness, there is no single approach that can be called the best.
The route you take will depend on a number of factors that are unique to you; starting with your goals and abilities, how you prefer to exercise, the type of environment you are working out in, and your schedule. To name a few.
Here we will work through a few of the things that you should consider when looking for your ideal workout plan, to ensure that you find the approach that best suits you.
Determine Your Workout Goals
Before you get started, you first need to envision what you want the end-result of your hard work to be. The fitness goal you work towards will have a huge impact on the type of plan you go for, and of course the intensity at which you work on it.
Building Mass
If you are looking for a routine that will ensure that you bulk, you will take on a routine that is mainly made up of resistance training exercises, since these are the ones that increase muscle mass.
You won’t necessarily concentrate solely on resistance routines such as weight-lifting and will likely see improved results if you mix resistance with anaerobic exercises as well. – it is always advisable to employ the use of a qualified personal trainer if you are just starting out on a weight training routine.
Weight Loss
If weight loss is your primary fitness goal, then you will focus on exercises that keep your heart-rate elevated.
Aerobic exercises such as cycling, jogging and swimming would be your best bet in such a case, especially if combined with a healthy diet.
Improved Endurance
If your goal is to improve endurance, one of the most effective approaches to doing so is through HIIT workouts.
High intensity interval training includes exercises that require bursts of high-level activity with very short rest intervals in between.
These offer a combination of both fat-burning and improving muscle capacity through highly targeted workouts.
Range of Motion
If your goal is to improve range of motion, then exercises such as Yoga are excellent. Pilates is also effective at improving range of motion with the added benefit of offering aerobic fitness, improved balance and core-group muscle strength.
How Do You Prefer to Exercise?
The next thing to figure out is how you prefer to exercise. Each way has its own benefits and drawbacks, and the way you choose to do it will rely on your own preference:
Alone
Some people prefer to workout alone because it can be done with fewer arrangements and more quickly. It can be difficult to continuously hold yourself accountable to your goals when doing a solo act, however; so, if you aren’t the type to challenge yourself, doing it by yourself may not be the way to go.
With a Friend
Most people prefer to work out with a friend for the obvious benefit of making it more enjoyable. Aside from that, having a workout buddy makes it easier to push yourself to your limits, and adds a competitive edge to your routine that holds you accountable to your goals.
In a Group
Working out in groups is also an excellent way to foster a competitive fitness environment by taking a communal approach to working out. This is also great for accountability, and also opens up a space for your to enter competitions.
Consider Your Schedule
Your schedule, it should go without saying, will have a lot to do with how dedicated you stay to your routine. So, it is important to first take a look at your time-constraints when designing a workout schedule.
Not having enough time is often an excuse for missing training sessions, but often we have more time than we actually think we do. Still, if you are trying to fit an unrealistic number of weekly hours in, your routine will likely not be sustainable.
So be sure to pick a routine that works with your calendar.
Contact the Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you would like to know more about our specialised, online fitness courses, be sure to get in touch with a representative from the Trifocus Fitness Academy today, or visit our website for details on our offers.