How to Create Your Own Workout Plan
The best way to meet your fitness goals is to plan for success. While it might feel great just to get started and make it up as you go, it will be more beneficial in the long run to create a foundation.
Still, coming up with a workout plan all on your own might seem overwhelming. With so many forms of exercise to choose from, how do you know what to do?
We put together some quick tips to help you create an intentional workout plan you can stick to!
Schedule your workouts
The first step is to make time for yourself. Treat your workouts like an important work meeting or appointment that you can’t miss.
Put them on your calendar on days and times that work for you. Don’t try to suddenly become a morning person if you’re not. Instead, schedule your workouts for the afternoons or evenings. Having them on the calendar will help hold you accountable and get you out the door (or in front of YouTube).
It’s also worth a mention that you don’t have to go all out and overcommit — easing in and slowly building up is often more sustainable.
Set your goals
It can be hard to stay on track if you don’t know what you’re working toward. Whether it’s losing weight, building muscle or feeling stronger — decide what goal you want to hit. And make sure it’s SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timebound).
Give yourself a realistic timeline to achieve your goal and determine how you’re going to meet it. Will you do strength training three times a week? Work with a personal trainer? Whatever your goal is, it will help you determine your next steps.
Decide on your workouts
With a goal in mind, you can determine which workouts will help you reach it. Whether it’s yoga, strength training or swimming, find activities that enable you to achieve your goal.
If you’re totally new to exercising, signing up for group classes is a great way to see what kind of options are out there. Enlisting a professional trainer can also give you inspiration for workouts you can do on your own in the future. Here’s just a quick glimpse of the variety of workouts that are out there:
- High-intensity interval workouts (HIIT)
- Strength training (body weight moves, lifting weights, using resistance bands, etc.)
- Dance fitness/Zumba
- Kickboxing
- Barre
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Aqua fitness
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Switch things up
Nothing ruins a great exercise plan like a stale routine. Give yourself some variety to work with and switch up what you do each day. Sufficient variation keeps your body guessing, which is how you make continuous progress toward your goals. Cross-training also keeps you safer, since doing the same thing each day tends to batter your muscles and joints.
And be sure to leave room for flexibility. A storm might wash out your plans for an outdoor run. Instead, turn on a YouTube video and get some Zumba in.
Track your progress
Keeping a fitness journal will help you keep track of all that hard work you’re doing. Not only that, but it will showcase your improvement as the days go by.
Set up a paper or digital tracker and log your progress. You’ll be happy to see how far you’ve come in the end. It might even help you set your next big goal!
Don’t forget to rest
One of the most important things you can do for your body is rest. Schedule a day (or more) where you do low-intensity activity, like taking a walk or foam rolling, or take a day off.
Pushing too hard for too long can cause injury, which is the last thing you need when you’re trying to stick to a new plan.
“When we work out, we’re forcing our body to adapt under stress and grow stronger so we can continue to meet and beat our fitness goals. Recovery allows our body to learn from this pressure and produce the results that make us feel good,” says CA personal trainer Charlie Dennis.
CA’s personal trainers are here for you
If you’d like professional expertise to launch your fitness regimen, CA’s 30+ skilled personal trainers are ready to help.
Enlisting the help of a personal trainer is a great way to find a workout plan that’s safe and effective for your needs. At CA, we offer both in-person and virtual personal training options. Learn more on our website.