Tuesday, January 08, 2008

How do I get started on a fitness routine?

A fitness routine can be a very complicated task and will involve many different commitments. The best way to get started with a routine would be to consult a fitness professional to assist you. If this is not an option for you, there are many tools that you can use to help you. One of the best pieces of advice that I can give to create a successful plan is tracking. This means recording what you are doing. Your routine should consist of a cardio plan, a strength program, and healthy nutrition.

The more you write down and keep track of these things the more likely you will reach your goals. Try using a free program on www.mapmyrun.com. This site lets you map out walks and runs that you go on so you know how far you are going. If you keep track of your times you can create a workout log to make sure you are improving. This site will even estimate how many calories you burned during your workout. You can also record on which days your performed strength workouts. For your food log try www.calorieking.com. This can help you at least get started understanding the nutritional value of the food you are currently eating and give ideas on how to change it.

When you look at your activity calendar you should have some type of exercise most days of the week. If you see a lot of blank days, you are slipping from your routine. You won't have to keep a food log forever but it is a great way to get started and teach yourself how to eat healthier.