Having a proper workout routine is one of the best things you can do for good health. Regardless of whether you’re just getting started or you’re back from a very long hiatus, having a workout routine can have great benefits to both your body and emotional well being.
Starting a workout routine and sticking to it requires determination and self-discipline. However, with so many workout routines out there, you might be overwhelmed about where to begin.
In reality, having so many options to choose from can make it challenging for you to create a proper workout routine. For this reason, you need to develop a plan to navigate the whole process a lot more easily.
Before you get started with your new workout routine, below are some tips that will guide you through creating a proper workout routine;
Get a health checkup
Before starting a workout routine, it’s important to visit a health provider and get a physical examination to identify any underlying conditions you might have. If you’re new to the world of fitness, this should be your starting point.
The main reason for getting a health checkup is to detect any condition you might have that could put you in danger during a workout routine. This will help you and your fitness coach know how far to take your exercises. If you have a serious physical condition, it will make it easier for you to follow a workout routine that fits your needs the most.
Create a plan and set attainable goals
After you’ve established that you’re physically fit to get started with your workout routine, create a plan that includes realistic goals. You can get started with your workout routine by following some simple exercises.
After this, you can now focus on building your routine. While creating such a plan, ensure that the goals you set are achievable. For example, if your goal involves running 5 miles, you can start by running shorter distances while working your way up.
Setting smaller but achievable goals keeps you motivated in your fitness journey. This works better than setting big goals that will end up discouraging you along the way.
Be specific
The key to a proper workout routine is to be specific about your objectives. If you want your workout routine to revolve around a particular skill, body part, or muscle, go with that. It might sound like such a basic concept, but it’s very important to achieve an effective workout routine.
The goals you set at the beginning of your workout routine mainly influence the type of exercises you should incorporate in your workout routine. For example, if your goal is to be more explosive at the end of the workout routine, ensure that you take part in explosive exercises.
Also, if you’re looking to build stronger muscles, ensure that heavyweight lifting is part of your workout routine. If you’re looking to lose weight at the end of the workout routine, ensure that the exercises you do aim at burning excess fat in your body.
Prioritize the important exercises
If a certain exercise hits your muscles the most, ensure that you prioritize it when creating a proper workout routine. All the exercises that demand more focus and strength should always come before the other exercises.
For example, heavy lifts, snatches, deadlifts, and jerks usually require more strength compared to other exercises. For this reason, ensure that they come first in your workout routine.
This is because if you concentrate on the lighter exercises first, you’ll use up most of your body strength before you can get started with the exercises that matter. This will have you compromising your whole workout routine and derail your goals.
After you’re done with the important exercises, you can now proceed with the ones that target one or two muscles, such as rows, bench presses, pull-ups, overhead presses, among others.
Switch things up
After you’ve created the proper workout routine and benefited from it, it’s time to change things up a little. It is believed that the body takes about 12-14 weeks to adapt to a new workout routine.
For this reason, after every 12 weeks to prevent yourself from remaining stagnant. Fortunately, you don’t need to change your whole workout routine for this. You can always perform the same workout routine you’re used to, only with different equipment.
You can also change your set or exercise variations. For example, if you were doing back squats initially, you can get started with single-leg squats.
Creating a proper workout routine can be very challenging. However, going there with a positive mind and realistic objectives can help you maintain a workout routine over a long period.
Even though there are many physical exercises to choose from, you can pick a few that work for you and stick with them until you see results.