Be Realistic

“I want to lose twenty pounds before my high school reunion next month.” Unfortunately, setting a goal like this can be a recipe for failure. Sure, it can be done, but it will require a strict commitment to healthy eating and exercise every day for the next thirty days, and this could be asking too much of yourself. And then, what happens after the reunion? Will you set a new goal or go back to your bad habits?

Being realistic about the goals you want to reach and the time in which you want to achieve them is a big part of planning for success. Only having the one big goal at the end can make the path very difficult to follow, so try setting incremental goals along the way, and don’t be afraid to reward yourself when you’ve reached a smaller goal, like treating yourself to a session at the spa or that hunting trip you’ve been putting off. With the help of a personal training expert, you can finally be consistent with your efforts, and be motivated to continue with your program!

Keep a Record

If you’re meeting with a personal trainer two or three times a week, chances are that he or she is keeping a record of your progress, but if you’re meeting your personal trainer less frequently, you might see the benefits of keeping your own records. Don’t plan too far in advance, as you can’t predict how your body will improve over the long run, but try to plan in increments of eight weeks, by noting what you think you should be doing and then what you actually did. A personal trainer can help you can also keep track of your measurements, weight (although weighing yourself is not always a reliable method of measuring the amount of fat in your body), or your BMI.

Don’t be Afraid to Make New Goals

How many people do you know that are still trying to get off that last five pounds? It’s true, the closer you get to your goal, the harder it is to achieve it. But this isn’t just true of weight loss goals; whether your goal is to run a marathon or to be able to lift a certain amount of weight, our bodies tend to plateau and it can be difficult to push through to the next goal. Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve gotten to a place that seems insurmountable. It’s ok to move the flag back a little, if it helps you to push on. This is also a great time to evaluate where you are and if your goal is attainable. Talk with a fitness expert, and make a new goal to help you continue on your path!

Why we need variety

There are several reasons why variety is important in our fitness routines. It’s important to remember that there are over 600 muscles in the body, so it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be using every one of them in one single cardio exercise. With personal training in Des Moines the main purpose of cardio training is to raise the heart rate and improve energy and stamina, but cardio can also work on different muscles groups at the same time.

Another reason variety is so important is that it can help you push through the inevitable fitness plateau that you’ll run into from time to time on the way to reaching your goal. The body reaches a plateau when it is working at its optimal capacity at any given exercise. This happens most often when the same exercises are repeated over and over again. Changing up the routine with personal training in Des Moines can help push through a plateau and even avoid reaching one altogether.

Daily, weekly, monthly

If you like rapid change and need variety to keep you motivated, you can vary your cardio exercises in the same thirty minute session by changing the exercise every ten minutes. Others prefer to concentrate on one exercise per session, but may do a different exercise every day. There are also those that like the consistency of following the same routine but realize that changing the exercises is beneficial in the long run, so will change every four to six weeks.

Change as you feel comfortable, but remember that part of working towards your fitness goal is pushing your body out of its comfort zone, so it’s not a bad idea to at least try an exercise you previously would have avoided it. You may find that you need assistance, and that’s where personal training in Des Moines can help!

Getting help

If you feel like you’ve done every kind of exercise you can think of and are at a loss for what to do next or just need some advice on the best ways to vary your cardio routine, you may find that personal training in Des Moines is the best way to go. A personal trainer can design a routine that helps you reach your goals as well as keeps you interested with cutting edge exercises. After all, personal training in Des Moines is the best way to spice up your fitness routine is to make sure it has plenty of variety.

Simple Goals

Are you still hanging on to a favorite pair of jeans that no longer fit, but are loath to give away because you have the vague idea that you’ll be able to wear them again someday? Why not make this your fitness goal? Your goals don’t have to be huge elaborate plans, but simple goals such as fitting in your favorite jeans or a dress you love that’s been hanging in the back of the closet for years.

Events

Sometimes, the invitation to a wedding or a high school reunion is all it takes to prompt us to get in better shape. The trick with setting an event as a fitness goal is to be realistic about how much you can improve your health in the time allotted. The best way to improve your health is through diet and exercise, so you’ll have to resist crash diets that promise to help you lose an unreasonable amount of weight in a short amount of time and focus your energies on your personal training in Des Moines. This is exactly why working with a personal trainer is so valuable, as he can help you make a realistic goal to looking your best in the amount of time given. Plus, once the event is over, who’s to say that you have to stop trying to reach your original goal?

Keeping up with the Kids

Young children have so much energy that it can be a challenge to just keep up with them everyday! A healthy diet and exercise routine can help increase your energy and be able to keep up with even the feistiest three-year-old. Plus, starting the good habits of healthy living while the children are still young is a great way to ensure that they will pick up your healthy habits as they grow.

Longer Life

While having the goal of living longer doesn’t necessarily have the same concrete goals as other kinds of motivation, it is still a powerful tool to keep in mind when starting personal training in Des Moines. A healthy exercise and diet routine can help prevent a host of diseases, from heart disease to osteoporosis, and people can start on this path at any age, as exercise not only helps prevent disease but can also help control and even slow it. Now that you are ready for personal training in Des Moines, contact a trainer today!

Pencil it in

Any professional worth his salt has a calendar filled to the brim with meetings, appointments and deadlines. Why not pencil in time for exercise, too? If you’re really ready to make a commitment to improving your lifestyle, schedule exercise into your routine and treat it like an important business meeting. Once you’ve added it to your regular calendar, you’ll be surprised at how easily everything else falls into place. At the same time, don’t beat yourself up if something unavoidable comes up and you have to cancel. Just don’t use this as an excuse to cancel the rest of your exercise appointments for the week! A Des Moines personal training expert can help you stay on track by holding you accountable!

Exercise at Work

If you truly can’t get away during the day, there are plenty ways to incorporate a little fitness into your daily routine. A Des Moines personal training expert has a view suggestions! Obviously, try to always take the stairs. Instead of emailing a question to a colleague on another floor, take the time to go ask the question in person. Set an alarm on your computer to remind you get up once an hour to stretch your legs and your arms. Even a quick break can be refreshing. Clip a pedometer on your belt and try to achieve between 6000 and 10,000 steps a day.

If you have your own office, you can even incorporate exercise equipment into your routine. Try sitting on an exercise ball, which will strengthen your abs and back while you work, or lifting dumbbells while you’re on the phone. Even if you work in a cubicle and don’t want to be seen with your exercise equipment, keep a couple of bottles of water in a drawer and use them as dumbbells when you can.

Office Fitness Programs and More

Upper levels of management are quickly learning that when their employees are healthy, they tend to work more efficiently, so exercise can benefit everyone in the workplace. Some companies have taken the initiative to start fitness programs in the office with the help of a Des Moines personal training expert.

Finally, if you live close enough to work that you can commute by foot or bicycle, consider making this change. Not only will you be doing something healthy for yourself, but it’s healthier for the environment as well!

Remember, you don’t have to make these fitness changes all by yourself. Seek out the advice of a Des Moines personal training expert. A personal trainer will take your busy schedule into account when setting out a fitness program for you, and help you come up with even more ideas on how to incorporate more exercise into your busy lifestyle.