Fitness Training Tips
by Cory
Winning-Fitness.com Executive Editor
Below is a list of fitness training tips that will help you get on track, and stay on track, with your fitness program. I have arrived at these gems after more than 30 years of trying to keep my own fitness program on track. These can also be thought of as a fitness philosophy or a set of core fitness tenets. These have served me well and kept me very fit, through full time jobs, raising a family, taking care of my house, and being involved in many other aspects of life. Now that I am getting older (the picture above is a post-40 picture), I know it is even more important to stay vigilant about working out.
1. Being fit, or even just trying to be fit, is well worth the effort. There are very few things on earth that will improve your life as much as exercise. The benefits are many and most of them are pretty important. Better health, a better attitude, and more self-confidence are just a few of the rewards. Click here to see a more complete list of benefits .
2. In general, the more exercise the better; but a little is far, far better than none. The literature, and my own experience, indicates that the biggest health gains are between none and some, and the benefit curve gets a little flatter as more and more exercise time is added. The caveat here is to always do things safely and correctly, and obviously you still have to be able to function in the other areas of your life. The good news for busy people is that you can be still be very fit with just a few hours of exercise a week.
3. In order to keep a fitness program going, it has to be a very high priority in your life. Otherwise, it just will not get done. For most folks, working out takes considerable motivation and effort. If it is somewhere south of organizing the sock drawer on the priority list, you are not going to get very far. Be very protective about your workout time. Yes, you need to keep your job and spend time with your family - but after that, the bar needs to be pretty high to nudge out your exercise sessions. Remember that keeping yourself strong and healthy is also good for your family.
4. Be tenacious. Even if you miss several sessions, or a week, or several weeks, get back to it! Constantly remind yourself of items 1, 2, and 3: it's important, a little is better than none, and make it a priority. Do not ever give up. Never. It is too important. You are too important. Yes, there are times you will be discouraged, or tired, or too upset. These are the roadblocks thrown in front of you. Challenge yourself to overcome them. Of course it is not easy - otherwise the entire population would be walking around "buffed and ripped." When other traits wither and fail, tenacity and perseverance will carry the day.
5. Be flexible. And I am not just talking about stretching here. If you suddenly have a commitment in your normal workout time-slot, try to grab a different slot that day, or the next. This also means that if you injure your leg, do a workout with your upper body until it heals - don't just can your whole fitness program. So again, guard your workout sessions with fervor, but if you must yield, try to bounce over to another time slot.
6. Keep things interesting. Cross-train. Mix it up. Don't let boredom creep in, as it will sap your resolve, and the next thing you know you will suddenly prioritize your workouts below watching old episodes of Gilligan's Island. Doing a variety of workouts (particularly if you do something from each major exercise category: cardio, strength-training, and flexibility) will also increase your overall fitness level versus just doing the same activity every time.
7. Whatever it takes to be fit is worth it. You don't need fancy equipment or a gym membership to be fit - you can be extremely fit without those. However, if joining a club or purchasing a particular piece of equipment is the catalyst you need to start working out and it keeps you exercising, then it is probably going to be well worth it. The return on your investment will be in the form of better health and happiness, both of which, I think we all can agree, carry high values. Obviously you have to stay within your budget, but even more importantly, you have to use whatever you buy! Otherwise, it is indeed a complete waste of money.