Exercise should be adapted to a person's age, goals, nutritional habits, free time, etc. Before creating your training plan, it is good to clarify the answers to these questions:
1. What are your goals?
Are you trying to lose weight? Do you want to build muscle or improve your physical condition? Are you preparing for your first half marathon?
Whatever your goals, it's good to write them down and realize what you're trying to achieve. These goals will evolve over time and training. It is also important to have the right expectations, so make sure you think about achieving your goals with a realistic timeline.
2. How much time can you devote to exercise?
If you can find an hour a day to exercise, that's fantastic. Most of us, however, go to work, have children, a dog, etc., and therefore do not have time to train every day. The good news is that you don't need hours of time for quality comprehensive exercise that includes cardio and strength training. Whatever your time constraints, choosing the most effective workout is crucial.
Effective exercise is one where you use your whole body in a short, intense workout:
- Focus on multiple muscle groups
The more muscles work, the higher the intensity and the more calories you burn during and after your workout.
- Functionality
Your muscles don't work in isolation in the real world, so why should you only engage one muscle group at a time during your workout? Engaging multiple muscle groups mimics real-life activities we perform regularly.
- Efficiency
Anytime you can engage more than one muscle at a time, you cut valuable time from your workout.
- Intensity
If you're short on time, focus on intensity. The more challenging your workout, the more effective the subsequent fat burning will be.
3. What is your current fitness level?
Are you in shape? Or do you at least think so? Or do you know you need to do something about it? Or are you unsure of your fitness level? Fitness is not just about muscles and body fat, and it's not just about how much you sweat during a workout. It's ideal for your body if your cardiovascular system also functions optimally, you don't damage your joints during exercise, and you build enough muscle to burn fat. You should take this into account when setting your goals.
4. What is your experience?
When exercising, it is crucial to know exactly how to perform the exercises, which will maximize the effectiveness of the exercise and eliminate the risk of injury. Therefore, for maximum effective exercise, it is best to choose an experienced personal trainer who will teach you everything you need to know and teach you the correct way to perform each movement. They will create a perfect training program that will help you achieve your goals, taking into account your current physical condition and health.
5. How is your motivation?
Motivation is often difficult to maintain when exercising on your own. If you sometimes lack the determination to change and go to the gym, you skip a workout here and there or completely because no one is supervising you, try it with a trainer. Regular exercise with a personal trainer creates accountability and increases motivation. An experienced trainer will also ensure that you never get bored during exercise.