There are plenty of free exercise programs to choose from but you do need to plan your workout carefully to have something that suits you. Your program will determine how quickly and effectively you can reach your goals.
Planning Your Exercise Program
The most important factor is that it should be as simple and as fun as possible, while being well suited to your current fitness levels and your personality and preferences.
You can pick out different exercises to include in your workout either online or by watching DVDs or exercise shows on TV. It is a good idea to have some flexibility and not do exactly the same exercise every day. You want to be sure you are not working only a few muscle groups. You can either do a certain routine for a few weeks and then change, or have a different program that you do on different days of the week.
Choose a time to exercise that suits your schedule and stick to it. In this respect you should not be constantly changing. It is best to go for the same time every day, 3 to 6 days per week.
Most people prefer to work out first thing in the morning. It is a great way to wake up. But if this does not suit you, go for later in the day, but always wait at least 2 hours after eating.
A good exercise program will last for about 45-50 minutes. You can include 10-15 minutes of stretching and warm-up exercises, followed by 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise and 10 minutes of cool-down which might include yoga or pilates.
The Options For Your Workout Are Limitless
The aerobic exercise could be done on home gym equipment such as a treadmill or exercise cycle or you could run or cycle outdoors. If you like dance, you could pick up a dance aerobics DVD and use that. Step aerobics is another option. Alternatively, the stairs in your house or apartment block can be very effective aerobic exercise equipment.
The key here is to choose something that you enjoy. Also, do not forget to check with your doctor that your program is suitable for your level of health and fitness.
Variation is important for emotional reasons too. Without it, your plans could fall prey to boredom. So if you like cycling, you may want to cycle outdoors in good weather or indoors when it rains. To increase the variety, a couple of times a week you could do some strength training with weights or muscle building equipment, instead of the aerobic exercise. At the weekend, you might go hiking.
Finally take a shower and you have filled the first hour of your day, getting your body off to a great start. Free exercise programs that you tailor to your own lifestyle should increase your energy levels and put you in a better mood through the whole day.
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