Drawing Up a Fitness Plan

Drawing Up a Fitness Plan

Would you start on a long trip without a destination or a road map? Probably not. The same is true for the road to getting fit. After you’ve set your goals and looked honestly at your starting point, it’s time to draw up a specific plan for reaching them. If you are young, somewhat active, not significantly overweight, and in good health, your ambition might be to run a half-marathon, to participate in a bicycle tour, or to go on a long backpacking trip. You have set a lofty goal, but it is a realistic one, considering that you are taking off from a pretty good starting position. You can probably handle a significant workout to begin with and can build from that quickly. In contrast, if you are not in the first flower of youth, if you are sedentary, overweight, and perhaps have some medical concerns, you must start with a substantially lower level of intensity. On an absolute scale, your goals are more modest, but in relation to where you are now, they are just as ambitious—and your fitness program will be equally challenging.
No matter where you start and where you want to go, the most effective fitness and
weight-management program combines aerobic exercise, resistance training, and
stretching—and, of course, eating the right kinds of food. Aerobic exercise burns calories, provides cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory conditioning, and improves endurance. Resistance training, primarily working out with weights, builds and tones muscles. Stretching increases flexibility and helps prevent soreness and even injury.
There are numerous ways to pursue each of these components. The beauty of a fitness plan is that you can tailor it to your tastes and time frame by mixing and matching the elements in your routine. If something doesn’t work for you or you get tired of it, you can change the mix. As you get fitter, you will increase the challenge of your activities, but you will find it easier to add new ones.