Did your workout routine fall by the wayside during the hectic holiday season? Get back on track by setting a specific fitness goal for this month. Write down (or type in) exactly how many times a week you want to work out and for how long, suggests Robert Forster, P.T., founder and CEO of Phase IV Health and Performance Center in Santa Monica, Calif. and Forster Physical Therapy. “Create progression in your plan from week to week but give yourself some leeway," he says. For example:
- Week 1: Monday and Wednesday 30 minutes of strength training, Tuesday and Thursday 30-40 minutes of cardio
- Week 2: Increase to 35-40 minutes of strength training and 35-45 minutes of cardio
- Week 3: Increase to 45 minutes of strength training and 45-55 minutes of cardio, etc.
Give yourself some wiggle room to change up your routine based on how you feel, but stick with your overall progressive plan. Forster also recommends cutting the duration of your workouts in half during the fourth week to allow your body to recover and help you keep moving toward your goals.
Your action plan: Download the free Fleetly Fitness app today (how about now?) and start earning points for logging in your workouts. You can also chart your progress and participate in fun fitness challenges with friends.
