Starting out the right way with your physical conditioning program
How an individual gets started in making improvements in their cardiovascular and strength development is perhaps one of the most misunderstood aspects of training. It is not about sitting on a machine doing endless slow repetitions using a low weight or standing on a balance board while swinging a versa ball around in the air.
And it certainly is not working out in the so called ‘fat burning zone’ that so many misguided and uneducated personal trainers would have you believe is the answer to all your weight loss problems. Moreover, it does not even have to take place in a gym to begin making improvements in your fitness level. Let us look at what the newbie really must do to get started on the right track to becoming physically fit.
The logbook
All beginners need to keep a daily workout log. The question I frequently hear iswhy do I need to keep a logbook? The answer is simple and if given even a short consideration of the reasons it generally becomes crystal clear as to the importance of the logbook.
Monitoring your workout is just a part of the process of obtaining optimal results from your exercise program. Maintaining and keeping this logbook up to date will not only chart your progress but will also provide you with an invaluable tool for keeping track of your own reaction to the stresses in your life and to the exercises you’re doing in the gym.
Keep a daily record of your physical activities. That is what this logbook is for; use it and grow stronger.
Once the habit of keeping a logbook is formed, you will soon find it to be a valuable resource as to your progress. You do not need to spend a bunch of money on a training logbook because a daily planner works fine for a training logbook.
Treat the logbook like a diary. In it, you express your thoughts about the session. It gives you the chance write down every selected exercise along with the weights used, the repetitions and the sets performed. Making notes on how you felt about the exercises, whether they were easy, medium, or heavy indicates the intensity levels. It has the added benefit of encouraging you for the next session and provides an excuse for a brief rest period as you write in your logbook.
Some exercise periods are a lot of fun and hard work while others are just plain hard work. It is up to you to choose, with your attitude, which it is you want to be doing each day. If it continues to be plain hard work, then the chances of finishing a scheduled program is remote. On the other hand, if it is fun and challenging you will look forward to each day of exercise. It is my intent as a strength coach to make them fun, challenging, and informative.
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