When it comes to exercise, there are many ways to go about it.
Team sports
Martial arts
Gym
Group Fitness Training
Bootcamp
Personal Training
Yoga
Pilates
Jogging
Cycling
Swimming
and the list goes on…
The man thing to consider firstly is what do you enjoy?
You don’t want to lock into something you hate, because you will only end up quitting soon after starting!
The second is what is your goal?
The third is will what you enjoy get you to your goal?
If you want to lose weight, don’t join the local pool and lock in for swimming lessons for 12 weeks, personal training, group training or bootcamp may be your best bet. If you want to run a triathalon, don’t join a bootcamp, start cycling, running and swimming or join a triathalon club. If you want to bulk up, don’t join the local touch footy club, join the local gym and pump some iron. If you want to increase flexibilty, don’t join the gym, get into yoga and compliment that with some pilates.
This may sound like common sense, but exercise can be one of those grey areas where people get confused and just end up going with what they know.
The problem with going with what you know, is that if you do what you have always done, you will achieve what you have always achieved. Often this is not a good thing.
A plateau with results is the most common cause for people to give up on their exercise plans. They think that they can’t reach their goals, so they give up. Then they get fed up with being unfit and overweight, so they start again and the cycle continues, only this time they are more overweight and a little older, making it harder to reach the goal this time, so the cycle gets worse!
The most important thing to remember is that exercise is for life. If what you really enjoy doing isn’t working for you, supplement it with something that will work a little better, but don’t kid yourself by doing the same thing over and over if it isn’t working for you.
Yours in Fitness
Troy Shipsey
