Day 7 of 31-Day Series “Your Last Health Resolution”

Once you’ve set a goal for your physical activity, you’ll need a plan to reach it.  We all know the old adage, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  It’s a good warning, especially if you have been down this road before and wound up sidetracked.  Here are the three essentials for your fitness plan:

Schedule

portrait of a woman jogging in a park

When will you hit the gym, or jump on the bike, or lace up the running shoes?  If it’s not in your calendar, it’s not that important to you.  So block it out.  And protect it.  Don’t let the spouse, the kids, your work, your bed, or anything else convince you to give it up.  (Warning: I’d recommend getting permission to block out this time from your significant other first.)

You will find it easier to make it happen if you make it routine.  Try to workout at the same time everyday.  A morning workout will actually serve you best.  You’ll experience higher energy levels, more mental clarity, and increased metabolism for 12 to 24 hours.  And people who exercise in the morning as opposed to the evening generally sleep better at night. 

A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition also revealed a 20% increase in fat burn for those who worked out on an empty stomach in the morning as opposed to those who ate breakfast first.  Your body will turn to burning fat if it has depleted glycogen stores and low blood sugar.  (So probably not a great idea if you’re a diabetic.)

All bias toward morning workouts aside, the key is working out whenever you can.  Even if your schedule changes, choose a consistent time like before work, or before you pick up the kids, or at lunch for your fitness plan.

Duration

The federal government recommends 2 1/2 hours of moderate-intensity activity per week.  Apparently they consider walking a moderate-intensity activity.  Really?  So if we all walk just 21 minutes a day we’ll pass muster?  Hardly.

I do like their 2 1/2 hour recommendation.  They just need to change the activity description.  Jogging, biking, rowing, or speed-walking all serve as better descriptors.  We all should walk as much as possible.  All the recent studies point to an early death for those who sit for prolonged periods.  So, yes, walk.  But you must elevate your heart rate to really burn fat.

Again, choose a duration that you can sustain.  You really don’t need to stay in the gym for more than an hour for most fitness goals.

Rotation

What do I mean by rotation?  A few things.  If you’re like me, you’ll soon dread going to the gym if you have to do treadmill intervals for 45 minutes straight four days a week.  So mix it up.  You can achieve the same heart rate elevation and calorie burn on the bike, the row machine, the elliptical, or in the pool.  If you’re training for a sport or an event, that’s different.  But if you have a more general health goal, vary your routine.  It will also prevent your body from adjusting and minimizing the effectiveness.

Also, you must incorporate strength training.  I did say “must” (in bold letters).  It’s important if you’re 20 and even more important if you’re 80.  At the bare minimum, twice a week will help.  You’ll experience faster results and greater benefit with more.  But you’ll want to rotate muscle groups each day.  For years I would work chest and triceps one day, back and biceps the next, and legs and shoulders the third day.  This allows recovery time for trained muscles. 

More detail on all of this later.  And more specifics to come tomorrow.