This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Creating a Fitness Plan
With all the fitness programs to choose from, ranging from Pilates, strength training, aerobics, and more, finding what’s right for you can be overwhelming. Apps like FitStar, Fitnet, and many more create personalized workout plans, and all you need to do is provide some personal information, including your goals. We’ll talk about some of those apps in a moment, but you need to consider some things as you are creating your fitness plan:
- Do you have any health conditions? Consult your doctor before beginning any fitness program, especially if you have a chronic disease including diabetes or a heart condition. Even if you don’t have any conditions that you know of, consider having a physical. If you haven’t exercised in a long time, sometimes an increase in physical activity can reveal an underlying condition that you didn’t know about.
- Be as honest as possible when assessing your current fitness level. This helps in creating realistic goals that you can actually accomplish.
- Have goals and make them realistic. There’s nothing like setting the bar too high to chip away at your motivation and cause you to quit because of discouragement. This is true regardless of your fitness level. If you’re an avid runner and want to prepare for a 5K race, there are apps that can help you achieve that incrementally. If you want to lose weight, calorie-tracking apps like MyFitnessPal can help set milestones for how much weight you can lose safely each week, and when you can expect to meet your goal. Setting dates and milestones toward completing your goals provides accountability and the motivation you need to reach your goals.
- Consider adding variety to your workout. Variety can keep you from getting bored, but you know yourself better than anyone. Perhaps just a brisk walk or an intense run along your usual route is all you need. Do whatever works for you. We discuss resources that are virtual libraries of workouts for you to try, including Sworkit and Fitnet.
- What is your budget? A gym membership and a personal trainer are not required for you to get a good workout, but they can help. Walking, running, biking, and a kettle bell can make for a highly effective workout with the proper guidance.
Now with the previous points under consideration, let’s take a look at some apps that can help you create a more refined fitness plan and help you reach your fitness goals.