Designing a Long Term Exercise Routine

Have you ever started a new exercise routine only to find yourself fatigued, bored, or frustrated within a couple months and, eventually just quitting altogether?

Unsuccessful exercise routines are almost always the result of one or more fundamental mistakes made in the planning process. You will greatly increase your chances for long term success by following these basic guidelines when designing your exercise routine.

Your long term fitness routine should include the type of exercise you can see yourself doing and enjoying over a long period of time. For some, this might be a brisk walk around town and for others it may be preparing for a twenty-six mile marathon.

Whatever your goal might be, it's important to start with a realistic exercise routine in relation to your present physical condition and progressively raise the level of intensity until you reach your goal. Exercise routines that start out too aggressively are usually counterproductive and seldom last.

Avoid routines that put too much emphasis on exercise. Boot camp routines are completely unnecessary and how many of us really want to live under those conditions for the remainder of our lives? They're potentially dangerous and they also overlook individuals who have a limited amount of time, a unique physical condition, or even people with a serious weight problem. Extreme exercise routines are created by people who, unfortunately, lack the ability to control their level of fitness without excessive amounts of exercise.

Time is a precious commodity for most of us so it's imperative that the foundation of your exercise routine be time efficient and fit easily into the lifestyle you desire. Three to six hours a week is plenty of time for the average person to become exceptionally fit when using a complete fitness routine.

Set aside a specific time five or six days a week and be consistent. You'll be amazed at how the body responds with positive results when you combine a well designed, moderate exercise routine with plenty of good nutrition and rest. I urge you to visit my site at www.ViewOnFitness.com for more valuable information on the importance of a complete fitness routine.

Avoid exercise routines that limit you to a specific location or type of equipment. There's nothing wrong with using a particular type of equipment or training at a fitness facility but it's always a good idea to have a back-up routine that you can use when needed.

If resistance training is your thing, learn exercises that require very little equipment or none at all like; push-ups, crunches, deep knee bends, lunges, and dips, just to name a few. These types of exercises are very effective and can be done almost anywhere.

If your routine includes aerobic exercise you can run, walk, bike, jump rope, and even climb stairs. A good back-up routine will allow you to be consistent wheather you're at home, at a friends house, or almost anywhere.

Stay away from exercise routines designed solely for the purpose of losing weight. This is one of the most common mistakes made by people when they design their routine. It's healthier, easier, and much more practical to regulate your weight by fine tuning your nutritional regimen. Use a consistent exercise routine to control your level of fitness and adjust your diet to control your body fat percentages.

The ultimate goal is to have your exercise routine fit comfortably into your preferred lifestyle when you reach your optimum healthy body weight. Exercising for the sole purpose of losing weight can easily result in mental and physical fatigue forcing you to change or even discontinue your routine altogether.

Don't be misled by anyone promoting exercise equipment or routines that claim to reduce body fat on a specific part of the body. Fat cells and muscle fibers are not the same. Exercise primarily conditions, firms, and tones the muscles you're using. The reduction of body fat will be a result of the extra calories used, change in metabolism, and increased hormone production caused by your exercise routine. For the most part, your body will lose the same percentage of fat everywhere. Exercise routines that focus on one specific area of the body can result in an imbalance and eventually cause problems as well as disappointment.

Forget the "no pain, no gain" theory. A little soreness is normal after introducing the body to a new type of exercise but an uncomfortable amount of pain is a sure sign you've over trained.

Listen to your body and regulate your level of intensity accordingly. Exercising is supposed to make you feel good and when done properly should never leave you tired or extremely sore.

Exercising with a friend or partner can be fun and also have it's benefits. If this is a viable option for you, great, but always remember your health and fitness is a personal issue. You have unique needs, goals, and time schedule so be careful not to design an exercise routine that totally relies on the cooperation of anyone else. Trying to coordinate two adult schedules in today's world can be extremely complicated so be prepared to go it alone when necessary.

Make your fitness routine a top priority in your life. It's ok and sometimes even necessary to be a little selfish when it comes to your health and fitness. The benefits that you and those close to you will enjoy from your healthier way of life will far outweigh any small inconvenience your fitness routine may create.

Follow these guidelines and other tips you'll find at www.ViewOnFitness.com when designing your long term exercise routine and you'll soon find yourself enjoying a fuller, healthier, more productive life! Good luck on your journey to good health and fitness!