Formulating your own exercise program
|
Good health should always be the Holy Grail for everyday living. How could we enjoy a full and rich existence without the blessings of a functional wellbeing, after all? Because of this need, many people in this day and age have tried to search for the perfect training regimen that would keep their bodies in optimal shape and their minds just as equally conditioned. Unconventional training methods, a balanced diet and exercise routines have been pursued to the letter, with the hopes of achieving a sound disposition. More emphasis is being given to the latter, however, as regular exercise has been proven, time and time again, to be one of the most efficient paths to stable health. You don’t have to enroll for a class or apply for membership in a gym to enjoy the benefits of regular exercising. You could formulate your own exercise program and observe the same at the comforts of your own home. This is how accessible and flexible exercising is. You don’t have to be restricted to a certain time or to a particular bloc. You have the luxury of conveniently integrating your exercise plans to fit your schedule without having to be in conflict with the other pressing demands of your life. In devising your own exercise program, much emphasis should be given the principle of F.I.T.T. This acronym stands for the following, all of which are essential ingredients and considerations of an effective exercise system: * F stands for Frequency. This refers to the number of times you wish to conduct your exercise sessions. Frequency would depend on the primary motivation for the exercise. I you want to lose weight, for example, a more frequent routine should be developed. If you want to tone your muscles, there should be more than one session per day, ideally that is. * I stands for Intensity. This refers to the amount of physical exertion you invest per sessions. Again, this would depend on the primary motivation for the exercise, as well as the exercise type you decide to choose. If you’re engaged in aerobic exercises, for example, intensity is measured through your heart rate per a given period of time. The intensity for muscle-toning exercises is measured through the weights used, as well as the number of repetitions you do. * T stands for Type, which simply refers to the mode of exercise you choose to pursue. We have mentioned aerobics, weight loss and muscle-toning exercises. There are more kinds, of course, and there is bound to be one that is suited for any particular purpose. * The other T stands for Time. Time refers to the length of time you invest per session. 15 minutes for Tae Bo exercises, for example, or 30 minutes of high impact aerobics. By adjusting the variables of the different components of F.I.T.T., we could accordingly tweak any training regimen to suit our specific needs. If we need to lose weight, for example, we could adjust the frequency and the time of our exercise routine. If we desire more shapely muscles, we could correspondingly increase the intensity of our conditioning sessions. Be forewarned that in formulating your own exercise program, two important factors should likewise be considered. First is how your body could cope up with the activities you want to line up for it. Not all bodies are built alike. Some are resilient, while others are more susceptible to injuries. Study your medical history beforehand, and if possible, present your exercise plan before a physician and ask for his opinion on whether or not your body could stand such tasks. Second is how you’d know when enough is enough. Too much of one thing is always bad, and this is true even for exercise programs. Often, people rely on their bodies eventually informing them that they are tired and have to stop. But sometimes, the mind overrules it and we end up pushing ourselves to the brink of our limits. This may prove unhealthy. The best way around it is to preset a definite schedule which you are to faithfully keep. The schedule should neither be too short or too long, nor should it be too easy or too daunting. Once a good and workable exercise program is developed, all you would need is a commitment to stick with the same, and good health would most certainly follow suit.
|