Planning Your Workout

Summer is just around the corner and it’s around this time that you start to realize you abandoned your New Year’s Resolution to “look great come swimsuit season” way too early. But put down that paper bag and breathe easy, all hope is not lost. It’s not too late to get back on track by planning your workout to get the results you want.

Know what you want. First, decide what you need fitness to do for you. For instance, you want to the body of your favorite celeb, you want to be stronger, or maybe you want to build up your endurance so you can run your first marathon. That’s your starting point! Now, get a fitness test at your gym, time yourself running your fastest mile, or weigh yourself and measure your waist, hips and thighs at home. You now have an idea of where you are.

Take it one day at a time. This mantra works when breaking old habits or making new ones. I know I get overwhelmed at the thought of committing to anything, but when you break it down into tiny goals (exercise today as soon as I get home, no chocolate today, etc.) it makes it a lot more feasible.

Do whatever it takes. If you know that you are not a morning person, then don’t tell yourself that you’re going to get up at 5 am to exercise. If you know you hate to exercise, find a way to be active that doesn’t feel like exercise at all. If you have a hard time pushing yourself enlist the aid of a trainer. Figure out the problem that keeps you from hitting your goals and then implement a solution to keep that weakness at bay.

Don’t forget where you came from. At the end of one month, get out that piece of paper with your measurements or running time. Now, see what’s changed. This is your new starting point for the next month and also tangible proof that you're either doing things right or that you need to work a little harder. Take this opportunity to think about your workouts and what you can do more effectively or what might be more fun and make those changes.