Starting an Exercise Program
Whether the intention is losing weight or building muscles, the difference between working out and not working out is really the difference between a healthy and unhealthy lifestyle. But to some, what may not be so obvious is the difference between doing it and doing it right. Apart from the possible injuries, fitness mistakes affect productivity and most likely improve your frustration rather than your body. Here are some tips before you start a fitness program:
Get Experienced Help
Just like any bad habits, bad exercising habits are hard to break. As tempting as it is to download a program and start it at home, it is really hard to distinguish good information from bad, which is plentiful on the web. You may consider hitting the gym with your buddy who has been working out for years--but doing it for years doesn’t necessarily equate to doing it right and teaching someone else takes more than just doing it right.
You can benefit from starting with a professional guidance in various ways. A better early experience goes a long way since the challenge of the workouts is not just physical.
Get Personal Attention
Make sure that you get the right type of help. If you haven’t worked with a trainer before it may be a little hard to know what to expect. A trainer’s responsibilities are far beyond just giving you a program and helping you perform your exercises correctly. They should also motivate you when you need it.
Here is something you should know about the trainers: despite the high rates gyms charge for personal trainer sessions, what trainers get out of these sessions is a very small slice. A good alternative to consider is hiring someone directly either to come to your home or meet at places that allow outside trainers. The chances are it will cost you more than a regular gym membership but it will be a tremendously wise investment.
Do Your Studying and Planning First
You also want to make sure that your exercise advisor is well qualified. Formal education is a good qualification measure. Highly qualified trainers have bachelor’s or master’s in physical fitness. There are also other basic qualifications such as NASM, ACSM or ACE.
You also need to make sure you have good repoire with your trainer, as they will be your coach and motivator. Some trainers do it more like the military way while others choose positive ways. Interview multiple trainers and try to agree on trial periods. Most trainers would agree to trial periods because they also want to make sure that the client’s expectations and commitment are aligned.
There are so many ways to keep exercising and going to the gym regularly is only one of them. In fact, I am more inclined to exercise at home using almost no equipment. I haven’t gone to the gym for about two years but I am in my best shape. But I started in a gym with professional help. And trainers are not just instructors; they are also cheerleaders and confidantes…at least they should be. Getting the right kind of help in the beginning can increase the efficiency of your work outs for years to come drastically. And the support you get before flying solo can change the way you look at exercising.
| Join our free nutrition and health news email list: |
|
|
Informational note: The data presented on our health and nutrition website is for educational purposes only. Though we stive to be accurate in all of the information we present, it should not be taken as medical advice. NSC always recommends consulting your physician before beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.
