challenge [chal-inj], noun
1. a call to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength,
etc.
2. a task or situation that tests someone's abilities
Googling fitness challenge gets you one hundred and
forty-seven million results. Evidently they're happening all over North America
in home gyms, facilities, and on social media platforms. A fitness challenge
adds zest to a regular program, igniting that natural human response of,
"What's that? A challenge? Oh yeah, bring it ON!"
This abundance of choice permits us to become fitness
challenge connoisseurs. We can select one that best suits our abilities,
preferences, and time availability. And when we successfully complete one
challenge, heck, we can try another one.
Not all fitness challenges are created equal. Some are too
short. A four-minute challenge promising substantial fat burning, really?! Some
just aren't safe. A month of 3295 squats might only land you an appointment
with your knee surgeon.
As you begin your quest for the best home-based fitness
challenge for you, here is a checklist of criteria.
1. Comprehensive and good value. Free challenges are usually
just a list of exercises, and your motivation will fizzle by the third day. A
professionally developed challenge is worth a small investment, especially if
it includes helpful resources that remove guesswork. Look for guidebooks,
posters or webpages with plenty of images and descriptions. Videos (just clips
or maybe longer) can bring the workouts to life in the privacy and convenience
of your home.
2. Adaptable. A great challenge encourages users to tailor
workouts for their fitness levels, abilities and health status every step of
the way. Every exercise within the challenge should offer levels of varying
intensity, complexity, or impact on the joints. Be wary of cookie-cutter,
one-size-fits-all programs that are simply too rigid and potentially unsafe and
discouraging. Your challenge should be exactly that... yours.
3. Realistic. Red flag any guarantees of a bikini-ready
body, a quick whittling away of muffin tops and other troublesome areas. These
statements are inaccurate, unprofessional, insulting and will leave you feeling
like a big failure. Yes, you will likely lose weight on your fitness challenge,
perhaps a lot. But put aesthetics aside and let your goal simply be, "I'm
going to complete this challenge no matter what." Then give yourself a
gigantic pat on the back when you do.
4. Supportive. Nothing can take the place of a face-to-face
session with a personal trainer, but a well-planned challenge can include
supportive elements that enhance personal accountability. This might be some or
all of the following:
A logbook or other method to record your efforts and track
your progress over time.
An easy-to-navigate website with relevant information and a
'contact us' form. (Extra bonus when your emailed questions receive a timely
and thoughtful response from a real trainer.)
A social media site, such as Facebook, that creates a
community of other challengers, a 'we're in this together' feeling. It's a site
where you enjoy spending your time engaging in conversation with like-minded
challengers.
5. Credible. A great challenge is backed by real science,
healthy trends, and best practices. The creator of the challenge should be an
accredited trainer with expertise in program design, one who genuinely cares
about the outcomes of every client. There is a risk of injury associated with
overzealous exercise, and you can't get fit if you're injured. If you're not
sure about the quality of your challenge, take it to a qualified trainer in
your community for her feedback and advice.
Other important elements of a well-planned fitness challenge
are:
It's do-able. Necessary space and equipment are easy to
find, and all excuses are out the window.
It has a reasonable timeframe. Anywhere between 21 and 90
days will help you make regular exercise a habit. Too short, it's too easy. Too
long, you'll lose momentum.
It suits your preferences. For example, an aquatic fitness
challenge isn't going to work if you don't like getting into the water.
It's un-intimidating. Exercise is for everyone. Insane
exercises and images of hot, tanned, sweaty skin can seriously hamper your
self-esteem. You're gorgeous in your goofy shorts and t-shirt.
It's fun. Yes, fitness can be fun much of the time. For the
times when it isn't fun, you're motivated by the post-workout endorphin rush.
There are potentially 147,000,000 ways to eliminate barriers
and take your health, fitness level, and energy to a new level. It's not a
question of whether or not you should engaged in a well-planned fitness
challenge. The question is which one are you going to begin tomorrow?
Fact: Every human needs daily physical activity to live
their best life. Fitness Matters Blog http://www.fitnessmattersblog.com is your
resource for information and inspiration as you incorporate regular physical
activity into your busy days.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anita_Parker
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