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Do you go through a weekly workout routine without giving it much thought? Hey – not judging…I’ve been guilty of this as well. What type of exercises we do, whether cardio or strength training, are many times chosen based on our schedules and how much time we have available for a workout. Personally, I tend to lean toward cardio workouts, and find I have to work strength training into my weekly schedule, else it would get pushed aside. Regardless of what you choose to do on a regular basis, the real question is: How do you know if what you’re doing is helping you reach your fitness goals?
5 Simple Ways to Gauge Progress…
1. First, if you are just starting out with a regular schedule, give yourself 6-8 weeks, (preferably, 12), before assessing your progress. Changing too much too soon can hinder progress. (Still waiting for results? Keep at it, and have patience)
2. If your goal is weight loss, don’t avoid the scale. I recommend weighing in about once per week. Any more, and you may become frustrated by daily fluctuations. If you are not losing weight despite regular workouts and healthier eating, then perhaps you need to add longer cardio sessions, add strength training to your cardio routine, or jump into interval training.
3. If your goal is to increase strength, a simple check to see if your routine is working is to ask yourself this question: Is your last repetition easier than it was a week or two ago? If so , you are getting stronger. Or, if you can easily perform more repetitions, then your routine is working and it is time to increase your load. (Strength training progression)
4. Are your clothes fitting differently? Sometimes body shape changes before there are changes on the scale.
5. Are you able to workout longer during your cardio workouts, and without as much huffing and puffing? If yes, then it is time to increase distance, speed, or incline so that changes continue to take place. (How to build endurance)
Most importantly, be consistent. What you do every day matters more than what you do once in awhile, so give your body time to adapt to the changes you’re striving for. (Get past road blocks to find your path to fitness)
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