So, you’re ready to start/resume/continue your workouts. Here are some considerable tips for you (adults) to not just start, but continue with your workouts for years to come.
Think. Write Down. Internalize Your “Why” Towards Exercise & Workout
Your “why” will help you establish the foundation & motivation towards making exercise & working out a lifestyle, and not just a seasonal/occasional fling. If your ‘why’ is not personally-resonating enough, then when you hit the roadblocks in the form of challenges, such as:
- Fatigue.
- Emotional Eating.
- Mood Swings.
- No Money.
- No Support for others.
You more than likely will quit the fight, and as a result, quit.
Establish a Workout Plan That Can Marry With Your Work Life & Personal Life
If your goal is to build muscle, shrink your waist & drop pounds, you may consider the gym as the best environment to workout. As such, you may invest in a gym membership, and follow a YouTube workout or challenge, towards helping you achieve your goal(s).
While this is a good workout plan superficially, if you haven’t married this plan with the other demands of your time & energy in your life; as well as your movement (functional) capacity, medical status, and others, then your adherence to this workout plan may end up being short-lived.
Life Variables That Can Negatively Affect Your Workout Plan, Your Availability & Your Workout Adherence
Work (Professional & Academic)
Commute; your energy input; your commitment in time (per diem); your body position & movement kinematics; this variable can & will reduce your available time (within a day & week) to workout.
Family Commitment
If you have dependent(s) and/or a partner as examples, then this variable should be considered. With family in the picture, how much time you would like to devote to your workout (daily & weekly), may not be the same as the amount of time you can be allowed to workout, because of your responsibilities/commitment(s).
Disposable Income
Your disposable income can go a far way towards you being able to afford the required nutrition for you to maximize on the return(s) of your workout input(s). With low disposable income, you can be greatly impeded towards affording the nutrition in the form of food & supplements. Keep in mind that nutrition & exercise go hand-in-hand.
Chronic or Acute Injury History
If you have a history of chronic (long term) injury, and/or acute (short term) injury, then your workout plan (initial) should be adjusted to suit your limitation(s) in movement, strength capacity & others. Similarly, your workout & exercise program goal(s) should include your rehabilitation of your chronic and/or acute injury.
Your Diagnosed Medical Condition(s)
Your medical conditions (diagnosed and communicated to you by a medical doctor), among other things will dictate your workout plan, in the form of:
- The exercises you do.
- How intense your workout should be.
- How long (per session) your workout should be.
- How often (weekly) you should execute your workout plan.
When you’ve factored in these workouts variables & married them with your life reality, then you’ll be greatly on your way towards your workout plan being one you can execute, build on, and benefit from, for a long time.
“Your Sustainable Fitness Partner”
About The Author
Oshane Bryant: BSc Geology, Geography Minor; ACE CPT since 2012; Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) Accelerator Graduate-2018 cohort; Licensed KUKIBO Martial Arts & Self Defense, Senior Instructor; CSA Certified Executive Protection; OB Fitness Founder & Managing Director.