By Aaron Gee
Did you set yourself a New Year's Resolution? If so, how is it going? If it was to improve your physical fitness, I hope that you're still at least somewhat on track; that's why you're here. Getting starting with a workout program can be a daunting experience. Results can be slow, and many people lose their patience with their training regimen. This typically will lead to one of two outcomes: throwing it out the window entirely before one's goals are met, or cheating through workouts to give the illusion of expedited progress.
Have you ever been to a gym, or at least seen a gym parking lot on January 3rd? What about on February 3rd? It is insane how many people give up on their goals prematurely, either because results are too slow to achieve, or the work is too hard. There is a reason that all the infomercials boasting six-pack abs in 10 days include the caveat "Results Not Typical."
So what specific reasons might be to blame for fitness goal demise? Well, impatience would have to be an obvious answer. Going into an exercise program, you have to understand that results are not going to happen overnight. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up to either overtrain in an attempt to accelerate results, or to compromise your technique. Both can significantly hinder your results, rather than boost them, and can put you at risk for serious injuries.
Another significant reason why people can give up too early is because they aren't following a proper workout program. Without a structured regimen in place, the routine you are performing may not be tailored to your specific goals, and you will need a considerably higher effort input for comparable results.
Improving upon your current physical condition can be an incredibly slow process. However, there is hope. You can't expect to just teleport from one place to another, but you can jump into your car and drive.
Being mentally prepared for the long road ahead is possibly your greatest asset in beginning an exercise program. You must be equipped with realistic expectations, a structured game plan, and the determination to stick with it, regardless of how tough it may be. Otherwise, you will get stuck with the exceedingly large percentage of people that give up on their fitness goals prematurely.
So what would define "realistic" expectations? Certainly not anyone's claims to add 10 pounds of muscle in 5 days, or to lose four inches off your waist in as many days. A healthy, realistic goal would be about two pounds gained or lost (depending on your plans to bulk up or slim down) per week.
Choosing the right game plan will keep you motivated and will help to expedite your results. Don't just show up to a gym and randomly bounce from machine to machine. For best results, your workouts should consist of complex weight lifts (involving multiple muscle groups, like squats or pull-ups) in addition to intense, heart-pounding cardio, with certain muscle groups worked on certain days. Also, remember to practice proper form, because developing bad habits at the beginning of a workout program can have severe consequences down the road.
You should never leave a workout not feeling like you've given it your all!
The best way to track your results is to set benchmarks and to measure them over time. This should include both body measurements and fitness tests. For example, see how many push-ups you can do in a row, and two weeks later try again and check your improvement. Daily measurements will fluctuate too greatly, so only record these benchmarks about twice a month.
Finally, you have to find what motivates you to want to achieve your goals. As I've mentioned before, not having a reason to go to the gym will make it an annoyance rather than just an obstacle in your path.
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-A G @ EpicFit20.com
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