Workout Routines

What is your workout routine? Is it designed to give you the proper workout for your goals and health? What are your goals and how are you tracking your progress to see improvement? These are four important questions to think about when exercising.

The first question is most important having the right routine decreases the risk of injury and gives you results. Your workout routine should include 1. warm-up to wake up and warm up your muslces, 2. cardio for atleast 20 minutes to build cardiorespiratory strength, to burn fat and calories, 3. strength training to strengthen your skeletal muscles, and always end with a cool-down to calm, cool, and relax the body to its normal functioning state. Here is an example of a workout routine for a beginner.

Warm-up
Light jogging for 5 minutes
Aerobics (cardio)
Outdoor run for 20 minutes
Strength training
Bicep and leg curls using 5 pound wiehgts 25 reps each
Cool down
Walking for 5 minutes

To answer my second queston, fitness goals keep you focused on where you want to go. Some people have short-term goals, long-term goals or both. Keeping your goals realistic and laying out a timeline to achieve them will set you up for success.

Short-term goals my include improving flexibility, to exercise 20 minutes three times per week or losing 1-2 pounds per week. Long-term goals may include to maintain a healthy diet, to improve strength and endurance, or paticipate in a marathon.

How and when do you know that all your hard work is paying off? By using a fitness program log. It's an easy way to track how you are progressing, it lets you know when goals can or should be modified and may pinpoint any problems. I've tracked my progress using a simple pen and paper taped to my wall with my currents stats at the top i.e. height, wiehgt along with my goal. Then down the sheet of paper I list the date I worked out, the time and distance of the activity, and the number of reps for flexibility and weight taining.

There is nothing to lose when using the right workout program but unwanted pounds. You CAN do it! Good Luck.