Creating a personal fitness plan is a great way to carefully map out how you want to get in better shape. When you have a strict schedule to stick to, you can more reliably meet your weight loss or muscle gain goals. Having a fitness plan is all about discipline, and when you carefully lay out your exact steps, you will have a better idea of your overall goal. Read on for four steps to take when enacting your fitness plan.
Improve Your Diet
The first step to any weight loss plan is to improve your diet. Cut out any excessively sugary foods and drinks like soda from your diet. When you get a better balance of proteins, vitamins, fruits, and vegetables, you can more reliably lose weight and put on muscle mass.
Everyone’s diet requirements are different, so find the best way of getting nutrients for you. Whether you add green superfood powder to your drinks, take multivitamins, or change the type of proteins you eat, you can find something that works best for your body type and gets you the vitamins you need. Once you have your diet regulated and in better condition, you can start the rest of your workout plan.
Start Small
If you are not used to exercising on a regular basis and jump right into an intense workout routine, you could potentially hurt yourself. When beginning your fitness plan, start slowly and work your way up from there. Your weekly plan should start off with gentle to moderate exercise a few days a week.
Ease yourself into a routine and expand as your stamina builds and you grow more confident with your exercises. For instance, if you walk on the treadmill, start with a comfortable walking speed before you go faster than you are capable. A good fitness plan takes time, and if you start by jumping into the deep end, you could lose your motivation to stick to your plan quickly.
Choose the Right Exercises for You
There are numerous ways you can get in shape depending on your age, body type, and medical requirements. There is no single correct way of losing weight and building muscle tone, so when you start planning out your workout routine, assess your requirements and determine which exercises would be right for you.
To determine your best plan, picture what kind of shape you would like to be in further down the road. If you want to lose weight, you can try basic cardio exercises, whereas building muscle mass could require a weightlifting plan. Take some time to decide what works best for you, and always know that you can change up your routine whenever you like.
Create a Specific Schedule
After you have mapped out exactly the type of exercises you want to incorporate into your fitness plan, the next step is creating a schedule. Without a proper schedule, you could potentially lapse and stop taking your exercises seriously, so sticking to a strict plan is key to staying committed. Pick out not only the days you want to exercise, but the time of day as well. Picking out a specific time of day as the designated workout time will better adhere you to a schedule.
The time of day that works best for you depends on what fits into your daily schedule. Remember not to do too much strenuous exercise right before bed, as that can disrupt your circadian rhythm.
Starting your fitness plan can be exciting. Just remember not to go overboard, as too much work at once can lead to physical pain. Don’t be afraid to get help from a personal trainer to keep you on the right path and working within your limits. For instance, when doing strenuous weightlifting, have someone to keep an eye on you to make sure you are using proper form and are at no danger of hurting yourself. Know your limits, stick to a plan that works best for you, and you can soon expect positive results.
