Successful Workout Programs Require Organization, Scheduling And A Workout Log
Although many a person decides to implement a workout program, to shed unwanted pounds, or just to keep fit, many fail due to a lack of planning, organization or just plain cheating on the schedule. Like any other project management, your workout program must include these three elements in order to bring success. Here are some tips on how you can reach your objectives.
Keeping a workout log is essential. A workout log is what keeps you honest. It also serves to journalize patterns which are either detrimental or supportive to your purpose. This needn’t be some fancy book designed just for this purpose. A 5×8 spiral notebook does the job. So what sort of information do you need to log?
Here’s where the organization and planning come in to play. Before you ever begin your workout program, you need to know what you want to get out of your workouts, what your workout routine will include and what days and times you’ve scheduled. So you’ll want to dedicate the first page of your workout log to listing each of these items, for easy reference. Page 2 is where you begin your workout log.
On line 1, write the date and time of your first scheduled workout. Consider each scheduled workout as an absolute must-do. Sure, unavoidable schedule changes can come up, such as an emergency toothache or a sick child that needs your undivided attention. Other than absolutely necessary obligations are better known as excuses. Don’t fall prey to excuses. If you do, note the reason in your log book, slap yourself on the wrist and either try to squeeze in a makeup session, or write it off to a learning experience.
Take note that if your workout schedule takes place outside the home, at the gym or wherever, it’s automatically easier to find excuses. ?I don’t feel like getting in the car and driving across town …? is the classic example. This is perhaps why the 8 minute workout programs tend to be more successful. It’s hard to find a reason you can’t fit 8 short minutes into your schedule.
As you complete each scheduled workout, leave a spot in your workout log to check it off. Another success!
Dedicate one page to each week of your workout program log book. This leaves you space on each page to note what went right and what didn’t. For example, let’s say you had a legitimate reason to miss one of your sessions. Write it down. This is useful information as time passes. You might start to see a pattern. Maybe Tuesday just never seems to work. You might need to reorganize your workout program to avoid missing future sessions. On the other hand, you might see a pattern of too many excuses, leading you astray from your objectives. Remedy this and you’re back on track. If you’re dieting as well, note any temptations in which you indulged. Again, you’re looking for patterns which you can correct in future weeks.
At the end of each week, weigh yourself after that week’s last workout routine. Weighing every day doesn’t help your cause. Once a month, get out the tape measure and measure those critical points. The waistline, hips, thighs and arms are ones you’ll want to keep track of, monitoring your progress.
Good planning is all it takes for a successful workout program. All that’s left is keeping your workout schedule as best you can and making those workout log entries!
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