How To Step Up Your Fitness Regime This Year

Any amount of exercise is better than not at all. But of course, the deeper you dive into exercise, the more benefits you’ll receive. Most people hit a plateau once they’ve been exercising for a month or so. At that stage, the two options are either to stay in your comfort zone or to step it up. And we’ll always recommend stepping things up! In doing so, you’ll become fitter and healthier, and you’ll get the additional benefits of exercise too, such as improved mental health. But how can you step up? Let’s take a look.

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More Frequently

Time is at a minimum for many people. However, since the coronavirus pandemic has shut off many activities that we’d normally do, it’s possible that you have more time on your hands than you normally would. So why not make the most of the opportunity by increasing the amount of time you spend exercising? If you’ve been going for a run twice a week, why not upgrade that to four or more times a week? If you can’t commit to extra days, then perhaps you can commit to extra time. The difference between a forty minute run and an hour run can be huge.

More Intensity

Of course, it’s not just the amount of time that you spend exercising that’ll influence the overall benefits, but the intensity with which you do it. As we said at the beginning of the article, it’s normal for people to hit a plateau once they’ve been training for a couple of months. They become too comfortable. If you want to carry on progressing, then you should force yourself to work out with a bit more intensity. That means adding more weights at the gym, running in more challenging environments (such as uphill), and pushing yourself to do a little more when you’d normally call it a day.

Set a New Target

It’s always good to have goals when you’re engaged in physical activity. If you don’t, then you could slip into complacency. Plus, it’ll be more likely that you’ll become bored with what you’re doing. As with all things in life, it’s good to have a target in mind! What this target is will depend on your brand of physical activity. If you’re a runner, then you could train for a marathon. Begin with a half marathon, such as the Bear Lake Half Marathon, and then look to complete a full marathon. You’ll find that having a goal like this keeps you focused when you might otherwise quit. 

Work With a Personal Trainer

Finally, if you’ve exhausted your knowledge regarding your physical activity of choice, then why not look at bringing someone who knows more than you do on board? A personal trainer can be a great way to reach your peak physical condition. They’ll be able to tell you the activities you should be doing outside of the activity, correct your form, and suggest the correct diet. Plus, they’ll simply motivate you to perform at your best level.