Exercise is a task made up by humans to stay “fit” (a term that has little to no definition in the general population, every person has their own definition for fitness) We have created so many exercise protocols to increase our health and longevity, but obesity has increased from 30.5% to 42.4% of the adult population in 10 years (CDC). Why is this?
I have had many opinions on what the best workout for a person should be. I have thought bodybuilding is what people should do, then Crossfit was the only thing that worked, maybe running is what humans were made to do. Now which one is best.
So what is my opinion on what the best exercise program?
The best program is the one that you can stick to and be consistent with for a lifetime. Doing what you enjoy is probably the biggest factor in being consistent for a lifetime. However there are a few other factors that play into this as well
· What are your goals
o Not having goals is usually why people have a hard time continuing with a fitness program
· What are your current Priorities
o If you do not know your priorities, start by making a list. The easiest way to do this is figure out where you spend most of your time and money. These are two of the most valuable resources you have so where you spend the most in these two categories usually aligns with your current priorities are.
o Priorities will change. As you get older some things become more or less important to you. As of right now my priorities are changing as I am starting a business and also have a child on the way. My fitness and exercise is still important but it is lower on the to do list.
· Accountability
o Are you intrinsically motivated, can you use your internal goals and drive to motivate you to exercise.
o Are you extrinsically motivated, do you need outside factors such as people or places to motivate you to exercise.
o There will be a time when you will have a lack of intrinsic motivation, this is when extrinsic motivators are crucial. However, if you are using extrinsic factors all the time, maybe your goals and priorities are misaligned. Maybe you need to take a step back and reassess your priorities.
If you take these three factors into your training program, you will have the best one for you. Experimenting with different fitness styles can help you come up with your own individualized plan.
So what is the best exercise routine?
It really does not matter as long as it makes you happy, it is helping you reach your goals, aligns with your priorities, and you can do it for a lifetime!
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