Everyone should aspire to establish an effective exercise routine, whether their ultimate goal is to gain or lose weight, or if they aim to optimize their health.

There are endless opportunities to integrate working out into your lifestyle, but it can be difficult to navigate an exercise program that can actually be effective in helping you reach your goals. Remaining stagnant in a workout routine can lead to burnout if you aren’t engaging your mind, but how do you know when it is time (and how) to switch up your exercise program?

The Drawbacks of Preset Workout Programs

Deciding which workouts to do each day can be a challenge of its own, but several workout applications offer preset programs that users can follow along with, such as Peloton or the Nike app. If you’ve ever tried one of these workouts, you already know how much they can make you sweat and set your muscles on fire.

These apps offer several benefits, such as allowing you to focus on a muscle group or work the whole body, but the lack of personalization often leads to inadequate results. While these resources can be an effective learning tool to discover exercises and routines, not many of these programs change progressively to accommodate your strength and goals.

Bigger Doesn’t Necessarily Equate to Better

We have all heard of compound exercises such as squats or chest presses that focus on a predominant muscle group, such as the pectorals (chest) or glutes and legs while activating many secondary muscles. Many people believe that in order to gain the most muscle or boost your metabolism you must regularly integrate these exercises into your routine. However, there are many exercises that activate these same muscle groups while keeping things interesting. With all of these options, how can you determine what will work best for you?

There is no “always” or “never” when it comes to exercise – some people may benefit from repeating the same exercises, and others may prefer to rotate exercises to keep their routine new and exciting. The most effective method to evaluate the efficacy of your workout routine is to establish a measurement system to track your progress.

Creating a Measurement System to Improve Results

Everyone reacts to exercise approaches differently, so in order to determine if your program is effective for you, it is beneficial to determine a measurement system to assess your improvement. When you maintain a regular exercise routine, setting a check-in point for every 4 to 6 weeks can help you determine if your program is effective or if you should modify your approach to improve your progress.

There are several forms of measurement systems you could try depending on your desired results, including:

• Weight changes or maintenance
• Circumference
• Resting heart rate
• Endurance
• Energy levels

No matter which health and fitness goals you are working towards, a measurement system is an effective method to monitor your progress and potentially guide you toward the appropriate adjustments.

Personalized Coaching Programs Can Help You Achieve Your Goals

Whether you’re a veteran gym junkie or new to the workout scene, it can be challenging to analyze your measurement system and determine which adjustments would be most effective for you. If you are consistently exercising but still aren’t achieving your desired results, seeking the guidance of a professional fitness coach can be monumental in boosting your progress.

Fitness coaches can help you establish a program that aligns with your personal health and fitness goals, offering professional guidance on when it is time to increase difficulty or alter your exercises. With the help of a coach, you can develop a flexible plan that allows you to reach your individual goals to increase your strength, alter your weight, or improve your help, in a fraction of the time you would be able to without any direction.

Outrun Gravity offers one-on-one coaching programs with the primary goal of focusing on YOU, so change your life today and schedule your FREE consultation today with one of our expert coaches.