How to Set a Successful Workout Schedule

Workout Schedule
09 Jun

Last Updated on June 9, 2016 by Michael Brockbank

One of the biggest failings many of us have when trying to lose weight is not having the time to work out. It’s all about setting a workout schedule for yourself that is both physically effective and easy to maintain on a regular basis. It needs to be developed in a way that allows you to continue your fitness efforts over time. You don’t want to start putting off the routine because something else got in the way.

Importance of a Workout Schedule

A workout schedule can be quite invaluable if properly designed and maintained. It can help you develop goals, give you a running record of your progress and help you achieve greater fitness in a shorter amount of time. I know I do much better when I set up and stick to a regular regimen of exercise.

Helps You Stay Focused
Keeping focused is one of the hardest things to do when first starting to lose weight. It’s easy to get side-tracked and off course. For example, you might not be able to exercise one day, so you put it off. The next thing you know, you haven’t exercised in weeks because you’ve been too “busy.” A schedule can help you keep on track, as long as you don’t let anything interfere with the process.

Optimizes Your Fitness Development
A schedule can help you keep a proper mindset for fitness. Goals, achievements, breaking personal records and more can all contribute to boosting self-esteem and confidence, which is vital to the process. Most people will give up if they don’t see results relatively soon. The goals you set for yourself when setting up exercise time can affect how you view the process.

Helps You Plan Exercises
The most obvious point of a workout schedule is to plan your exercises ahead of time. I usually focus on a week at a time and alter each schedule to reflect either personal progress or if I am aiming to break records. While there are a ton of workout routines available on the Internet, I suggest creating one that is tailored for you. This doesn’t mean you can’t emulate people like Ryan Reynolds. It’s more about what you wish to accomplish in your routine.

Determining Your Needs

The best way to devise a good workout schedule is to determine your personal needs. You may find routines of others that fit perfectly on the Internet. Personally, I like to create my own and try new things. That’s how I found out that I love doing planks. Spend a few moments figuring out what you want to accomplish.

Weight Training or Cardio?
One of the most important aspects you need to consider is whether you want to add muscle mass or focus on a more generalized fitness. I usually incorporate both. I don’t want to be a body builder, but the idea of being a bit stronger is appealing to me. However, most of my efforts are aimed more at cardio exercises because I want to lose weight faster and tone the muscle mass I already have.

Long or Short Workouts?
Deciding on long or short workouts is going to be subjective to the time you have available. If you’re schedule will allow a longer routine, this is what I would suggest. The longer you can maintain an exercise, the more calories you’ll burn. Don’t get me wrong, shorter workouts can be beneficial. But the act of sustaining a higher heart rate has potential to help you in a myriad of ways ranging from memory enhancement to greater stamina.
Morning, Day or Night?
Not everyone is a morning person such as myself. If you’re one of those people who jump out of bed and get ready for work five minutes before you have to be there, then an afternoon or night schedule may be better suited for you. This will be determined by what time you have available to dedicate at least 30 minutes to a workout schedule. Even if you don’t use the entire 30 minutes, you still want to give yourself a bit of time to get ready and cool down.

Finding Time that is For You

Once you’ve decided where your focus is going to lie, you need to find the time that works best for you. I like to workout in the mornings and afternoons. It’s also two times of the day where I don’t have much going on. For instance, I have two hours available in the morning if I get up at 6am. Since even my most grueling workouts usually only take 45 minutes, I have plenty of time to get in what I need done. Lately, however, I’ve been filling my time with other things such as writing this blog. So, I have to adapt and focus on shorter workouts so I can still get to work on time or exercise when I get home at 4pm.

Scheduling Time In the Day
It’ll work best if you can find time in your day that others are less likely to interfere. For me, it’s in the morning simply because the children are sleeping and the wife is getting ready for work. Plus, I am a morning person. If night-time workouts are best for you, that works as well. It can help you burn off the rest of the energy you have and has potential to improve sleeping patterns.

Keeping Your Workout Routine Sacred
The most important thing you have to consider when setting up a workout schedule is to keep it as sacred as a business meeting. You don’t want anything to interrupt your patterns. It’s easy to get into the mindset of, “I’ll do it later.” Make exercising a part of your lifestyle and regular routine. It’ll be a major factor in how successful you are at maintaining optimal health.

My Typical Workout Schedule

Currently, my days are a bit on the hectic side. However, I do have a fall-back routine that I am working to get back into. It’s a mix of minor weight training and cardio fitness. For example, I’ll do a set of dumbbell curls, dumbbell military presses and lying leg raises. Arms and abs are what this routine focuses on. Here is how my week typically looks.

SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Rest PeriodWeight Training Mix, usually with dumbbells and core workCardio: nothing wrong with the Xbox KinectWeight Training MixCardio: long walks or core work. Sometimes I’ll throw in bike ridingWeight Training Mix: usually working on everything above the waistline in one sessionCardio: Bike rides on a Saturday morning are awesome!

I am currently working on more detailed workout routines and schedules to help out my visitors. I know this is pretty generic, but I like to mix up the exercises daily in order to keep from getting bored with one specific exercise over time. Getting bored can be very bad for your fitness progress.

Keeping a proper workout schedule can greatly affect your transformation into a healthier individual. While it’s still possible to lose weight and build muscle mass without a strict schedule, it makes the process easier to manage. Don’t underestimate the value of finding some “you” time. The prospect of higher mental and physical fitness makes the effort worthwhile.

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