How to Start a Workout and Fitness Plan

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The health clubs and gyms are typically packed with everyone who made New Year’s resolutions until around the end of January. Their life-changing plans normally end by January 31st or sooner. Seasoned workout people have learned to wait out the crowds because the gym will empty dramatically.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Assess your needs. Do you need to lose weight, or do you need to get in better shape? Do you want to work on certain areas of the body, such as abs or legs? Are you going to join a gym, or do you have workout equipment at home? Determining exactly what you want or need to do should help you focus your workout.

Step2

Develop your plan. Once you have assessed your needs, decide exactly what you’re going to do and how you’re going to do it. If you’ve decided that you want to target abs, decide whether you’re going to do crunches at home and the ab machines at the gym, or use a stability ball. If your working on your arms, you might do abs on Monday and arms on Wednesday. A good workout and fitness plan should include cardio and weights. You should decide if you’re going to do cardio before or after you do weights.

Step3

Ease into the routine. A lot of people get discouraged because they try to do too much too soon. If you have not been working out, start with two days a week. If you have not been doing cardio, start with 5 to 10 minute sessions at level one or two.

Step4

Gradually build your time. After you have successfully completed your first month using the above steps, increase your times and reps. If you have been doing 10 minutes on a cardio machine, go to 15. If you’ve started with 8 reps on weights, add two more reps. When you reach 12 reps, increase the weight.

Step5

Be consistent. The goal is to make working out a part of your normal life. Your workout regimen won't succeed if you don’t keep at it.

Step6

Change your eating habits even if you’re not trying to lose weight. More protein and good fats will help build endurance and muscle.

Tips & Warnings

If you're tired, do less weight, fewer reps and spend less time on cardio, but do something. Don't completely veg out or you'll lose the discipline to stay with your program.