What is your exercise goal?
To maximise your chances of getting results from exercise, it's important to know what you want to achieve. There isn't a "one size fits all" solution and it's likely that different training strategies will be required to achieve different goals. Four of the most common health and fitness goals are:
• fat / weight loss
• aerobic fitness and cardiovascular health
• muscle toning / strengthening
• flexibility / suppleness.
What's your exercise style?
It's also important to match your chosen activity with any personal preferences, behavioural style and injury history. Think about your answers to the following questions when weighing up the best type of exercise to help you achieve your goals.
• Do you like exercising alone, with a friend, or in groups?
• Do you like exercising indoors, outdoors, or a combination of both?
• What is your current fitness level?
• Are you a competitive person?
• Are you reasonably coordinated?
• Are you more likely to exercise if it's located close to home or work?
• How much of a factor is cost?
• Do you have a history of sports injuries?
Know what you want to achieve from exercise
The most popular fitness goals are generally to lose weight, get fit, strengthen your muscles and improve flexibility. But exercise offers many other benefits, including injury prevention, management of depression, and prevention of diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease. Know what you want to achieve, and you'll be more likely to achieve it.
Before you begin
We highly recommend that you inform your doctor before undertaking a new exercise program, or planning a significant increase in activity, to rule out any potential health risks.
To maximise your chances of getting results from exercise, it's important to know what you want to achieve. There isn't a "one size fits all" solution and it's likely that different training strategies will be required to achieve different goals. |
