We've invited Herb Schuh, owner of Ladies Workout Express in Joliet, to provide a follow-up guest article to "5 Components of Physical Fitness."
I previously wrote about the “5 Components of Physical Fitness”
(http://abcwellness-rehab.com/5-components-physical-fitness). This follow-up article will give you more information on how to structure your workout routine. There are basic principles of exercise that you or your trainer should consider if you are starting a new workout, reached a plateau, or are simply unhappy with your current results. Some of these seem obvious but are often overlooked.
REGULARITY: (how often you workout)
To achieve a training effect you must exercise often.
PROGRESSION: (increase in resistance and intensity)
The intensity and duration of exercise must increase and improve.
BALANCE: (full body training)
To be effective, a program should include activities that address all the fitness components. Overemphasizing any one of them may hurt the others.
VARIETY: (no boredom)
Providing a variety of activities reduces boredom and increases motivation and progress.
SPECIFICITY: (specific body parts or goals)
Training must be geared toward specific goals.
(Example: people become better runners if their training emphasizes running. Although biking and swimming are great exercises, they do not improve a 2 mile run time as much as a running program does.)
RECOVERY: (proper rest and nutrition)
A hard training day for a given component of fitness should be followed by an easier training day or rest day for that component and or muscle group to help permit recovery.
OVERLOAD: (working beyond your normal comfort level)
The work load of each exercise session must exceed the normal demands placed on the body in order to bring about a training effect.
Working with a professional who is trained in these principles can be beneficial no matter what your fitness level is. If you’re going it alone you should consider your own fitness goals. Are you wanting to run a marathon, increase muscle mass and decrease body fat, or to look better at the beach? Do you want to improve your quality of life by reducing LDL cholesterol levels, reducing your blood pressure, or helping to regulate your blood sugar levels? What ever your goal is you should ask yourself, “Have I included all of these principles in my routine?” Need more help? I have included the link to a 1 week guest pass. Come in and see how we can help you get to that next level of health and fitness:
http://www.ladiesworkoutexpress.com/guestpass.asp?l=gp&siteid=6393
