Starting a new exercise program is the easy part. There is all the excitement of beginning something new to propel one through the initial week or so of the program. But how do you maintain that enthusiasm? One easy way is to shake things up every so often.
There is an athletic training principle known as periodization that breaks up a season, or training plan into four week blocks. The principle being that for three weeks the training increases in duration and or intensity with the fourth week being an easy recovery. Now, not everybody is building toward a marathon and periodization may not necessarily be for them, but it provides a good rule of thumb.
If the goal is to increase fitness levels and become more mobile, changing your workout routine each month may be a good idea. So one goes three weeks building up whichever activity you choose, walking for instance, so that you can walk ten miles a week. Slow down during the fourth week, taking easy walks and only doing five miles for the week. Then switch to swimming for the next month, building up fitness in that activity before switching once again.
With this plan there is cross training, multiple disciplines, and with only a month for each activity or workout routine, it will rarely get stale. At the same time, tracking progress for the month will keep each workout interesting and challenging. As well, there is the fun of deciding on new and exciting activities take on each month. Pick three or four activities and cycle through them.
AUTHOR: Sean-Michael Young
MORE INFO: Excerpted from "Lifetime Fitness: Staying Active After 50"
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