One of the hardest steps to take when starting out with an exercise routine, is actually figuring out which type of exercise is going to suit you best. Of course working out isn’t going to be easy – if it’s easy you’re doing it wrong!
There are a few important considerations to make before embarking on an exercise programme. You will need to think about finding a routine which fits with your lifestyle, which suits your level of fitness and experience, and which is something you know you can commit to, without getting bored quickly.
Here are some basic guidelines to run through, to help you make a decision on what type of regular workout programme would fit you best. From answering these questions, you will be able to build upon the idea around an exercise routine and therefore adapt it to your lifestyle and interests.
Location:
Have a think about the following to help reach a decision. Will regular exercise be an activity you’d feel most comfortable performing in your own house or around your immediate neighbourhood. Can you see yourself sticking to an activity which utilizes equipment you can use from home, such as jogging and walking on the treadmill, using swiss balls and skipping ropes, or investing in an elliptical machine for strength and cardio. If you want to start your fitness routine at a low and steady level, can you see yourself committing to morning and evening walks around your neighbourhood. To make it a little easier to stay motivated, do you have a dog you can incorporate into your walking routine, or a friend who wants to exercise and tone up with you too?
Gyms or Health & Fitness Clubs
The biggest thing to take into consideration when looking into this option, is monetary – can you afford the fees. Make sure you do your research on the gym or club – what’s the minimum period you can sign up for? Do you know anyone who goes there who can give you feedback on it? Do they have classes, what type of exercise machines do they offer, what type of people go there – will you feel comfortable and does it suit the type of goals you want to achieve?
Get Creative
If working out at the gym, forcing yourself to go for regular walks or investing in home gym equipment is just not your thing, have a think about an activity that you have may been involved in or interested in in the past, or an activity that you can see yourself enjoying, that doesn’t just seem to you like blood, sweat and tears. Maybe you enjoy going out once in a while and dancing – then what better way to get active regularly than to look into beginner dance classes, or even dedicate weekly times to turn the stereo up and dance to your heart’s content in your living room.
Swimming is a great low-impact activity that could be an option too – going to the local pool will mostlikely work out cheaper than buying a gym membership, and you can pace yourself and have fun in the water at the same time.
Perhaps you want to get back into a sport that you’ve neglected for a long time – look around community notice boards for recreational groups to join, or yoga classes – you’ll be surprised to find there’s all types of fitness programmes out there for all ages and all levels of experience.
Getting fit, losing weight, toning up and improving your health doesn’t have to be a chore, and can be incorporated in to your lifestyle to suit you and to have you enjoying the activity and the routine.
