Throughout my fitness career and as a personal trainer, I have seen many people who are involved in a workout program, but do not know why they are doing the number of sets and repetitions that they are – and may not even have given it a thought. Do you know why you’re doing those sets and reps? Do they match your starting points and end goals? It pays to understand why you’re doing a certain workout routine! It will save you time, energy, frustration and most importantly, keep you injury free. So there is a lot more behind it than you may think! To start, let’s answer some questions that will determine where you stand.
What is your age? This is important because everyone needs to know their own limit. Growing up in your teens and into your late 20’s, our bodies can handle getting pushed to the max and we bounce back the next day with no problem. As we age, our bodies can’t handle the same demands we used to put on them, therefore recovery takes longer. Some say that your bodies start breaking down at the age of 40 (I think my body must be on the accelerated plan!). So setting realistic goals based on your age, and starting in a safe zone, is important when determining your routine of sets and repetitions.
How long have you been training? It’s really this simple – if you are just starting to workout, there is no way you should be doing advanced training. Just because you see or hear of someone else who achieved good results from doing a certain workout, does not mean it’s for you! It takes time to develop muscular endurance and strength. In addition, your body need to learn the proper mechanics of the exercise – poor mechanics can make a simple exercise twice as hard and will more likely lead to injury.
What is your body type? Have you ever wondered why sprinters can run so fast, where as marathon runners can endure for so long? It boils down to muscle type – A sprinter has type 2 muscle fibers and a marathon runner has type 1. We can each have a combination of the two, but one is usually more dominant. Learn to understand your body type, and what exercises are best suited for you personally!
What are your goals? If you don’t have a reason to do something, why do it? Have you ever tried to quit a habit for no reason? How did that work out for you? Having a goal is crucial, otherwise you won’t have the motivation to push through the pitfalls of the workout. Setting your goals and routine to match is important in achieving those goals! Set yourself up for success by making it your plan!
How much time do you spend at the gym? If you are trying to build muscle, get bigger and increase your strength, only having 30 minutes a day to work out full body is not going to cut it. Putting on size and strength takes a lot of sets and repetitions, and rest in between those sets. Prioritize and plan accordingly!
Let’s see who is serious about their fitness! If you would like a 7 day meal plan, or 7 day workout routine for FREE, all you have to do is reach out to me at edwinsfitness@gmail.com – I will send you the plan, no strings attached!