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Never Fail at Fitness Again
Top Five Reasons Why Exercise Programs Don't Work And How to Fix Them
Michael Stefano
If you are like most Americans, by now the majority of your
New Year's resolutions have fallen by the wayside.
Unfortunately, sticking to your new exercise program was
probably one of the first things to go.
It's not that you don't want to get in shape and reap the
rewards of a properly executed fitness plan. You go through
the motions as best you can, but it's just NOT working -- and
you demand to know why!
Let's take a close look at the top five reasons why exercise
programs fail.
Reason # 1: Failure to Clearly Identify Goals
You can't expect to get anywhere fast if you don't know where
you're going. Establishing goals early on in the development
of your regimen, will help you to pick the right exercises, and
routines to deliver those goals.
You might feel that spare tire you've been carrying around for
the last six or seven years is starting to look like an oversized
truck tire. More than anything else, your goal is to just get rid
of it, and looking like Arnold is not important to you.
Solution: Sit down with pen and paper and make a list of goals
to help you get in touch with what you want from your program.
Because you've clearly identifited fat loss as your main goal,
you won't waste hours at the gym hoisting heavy barbells.
Instead, you now focus on aerobic exercise as the best way to
burn fat. But you don't skip strength training (weight lifting)
altogether, you just modify the way you lift, doing high reps
with light weight, while resting only briefly between each set.
Reason # 2: Lack of Proper Instruction, Direction
You might have seen this guy at your local gym. He's been
training for years, spends hours working out, and yet never
looks any different. If you ask him about his routine, he hasn't
a clue. He basically just wonders from one station to the next,
and hence, his program has little, or no effect. Worse yet,
some of the exercises he's performing are actually having a
negative impact on his health, possibly leading to over-training
and injury.
Solution: Educate yourself. With all the time this poor guy
spends training, he's never taken the time to learn HOW to
train. He needs to read a book or two, and stop wasting his
time and energy doing what doesn't work.
Reason # 3: Failure to Start Slowly
You want that new body, and you want it now! But back in
the real world you'll have to give yourself a couple of months
to see real results in the appearance department. However,
you'll notice increases in strength, energy levels, and
endurance almost right away.
Soluiton: Give your body a chance to adapt to this new stress
called exercise. It will reward you by getting stronger and fitter.
Small, gradual pushes work best. For example, if you've haven't
jogged in years, walk first. Gradually, ad in brief intervals of
jogging during your walk, and before you know it, you'll be
jogging for a pain free half an hour.
Reason # 4: Lack of Time to Devote to Your Program
This is a failure to prioritize and put yourself, and your fitness
program first. When you take a closer look, you'll realize that
you don't need all that much time. About a half an hour per day,
4 or 5 days a week will get big results - if you exercise smartly,
you can get by with even less.
Solution: Save the excuses for the boss, but be honest with
yourself about when, and where you can train. Also, if you put
together some basic equipment (a small bench and some dumbbells),
you can save the travel time to and from the gym, and squeeze a
thirty-minute workout before, or after work right at home.
Reason # 5: Poor Eating Habits
You wouldn't expect your car to respond at its optimum level
if you filled its tank with the wrong fuel. A successful exercise
program has to be fueled by solid nutrition, with an adequate
balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
Failure to eat right while training hard can result in loss of muscle
mass, and increased amounts of stored body fat, just what you don't
want.
Solution: While shopping, read lables and always choose the low-fat,
low-calorie option. Stay away from fried foods that are high in fat,
and avoid junk food like the plague. Take a common sense approach
to eating right, and make sure you avoid any extreme fad diet.
By taking closer look at the problems, or obstacles involved, we can more
easily takes steps to overcome, and succeed. Make any changes slowly, but
move steadily in the right direction, always moving towards the goals you've
defined.
About the Author
Michael Stefano is a captain on the New York City Fire Department,
as well as author of The Firefighter's Workout Book, The 30-minute-a-day,
Train-for-life Program for Men and Women. He is also managing editor, and
writer of many articles on health and fitness at www.firefightersworkout.com,
(where you can sign up for a FREE Train For Life Newsletter).
Michael Stefano's articles have appeared on such internet giants as
America On Line, Yahoo!, and eDiets.com
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