What to Look for When Choosing an Exercise Program

The American Council on Exercise reports only 25 percent of Americans engage in the recommended levels of physical activity. What’s more, only half of novice exercisers drop out within the first six months. ¹

Designing your exercise program and then sticking with it is much easier if you select the right activity for yourself.

Whether you’re just starting out, renewing your commitment to exercise, or simply looking for a change of pace, there’s an exercise out there you can live with and love.

Here are some basic criteria to consider when selecting exercises:

• Enjoyment. When you start an exercise program, you typically view it as something to be tolerated—because it’s “good for you.”  A better approach is to consider whether the exercise will be fun. Will you get to meet new people, learn some new skills, or engage in some friendly competition? When choosing an exercise, look at the quality of the exercise experience. Would you do it for a lifetime? You really have to love it that much.

• Ability.  Do you have the physical skills and abilities to perform certain exercises? Listening to a biker sing the fitness praises of cycling is enough to make you invest in a new ten-speed bike and hit the open road. But later, a skinned knee might seem like a blessing in disguise. Biking, you decide, is a sport for the brave, and another attempt to get in shape bites the dust. Choose exercises you can perform with a reasonable degree of skill. Your motivation increases when you’re convinced you can be successful. At the same time, don’t give up too easily.

• Convenience. Accessibility to pools, gyms, or tennis courts influences your decision to participate in certain activities. In fact, studies have shown that one of the major reasons people drop out of exercise programs is inconvenience. It’s easier to stick to your routine when exercise is convenient.

• Affordability. Exercise ranges in price from no cost to low cost to high cost. Before committing, decide how much you can afford to invest in gear, equipment, lessons, or gum memberships.

• Fitness Benefits. A working knowledge of the benefits of various types of exercises is an important factor in choosing an activity. For example, if you want to develop strength, you would want to select resistance training as your primary mode of exercise.

References
1 http://www.livestrong.com/article/445409-attrition-rates-for-exercise-programs/#ixzz2JEsjGiD2