Training Basics

This page goes over some training basics which are vital to achieving success in any fitness program. Fitness provides a tremendous method for self-improvement, not only physically, but mentally as well. By understanding where to focus your energy and attention when working out you will be more motivated and you will enjoy greater success in the long-run. Read over the information here and follow the links throughout the article to learn more.

Components of Physical Fitness

Physical fitness consists of several attributes associated with improved health and performance. Although most people begin training primarily for cosmetic (ex: to become more "toned") or performance reasons (ex: to increase strength and speed), there are other components of fitness that must be considered as well. One of the most important components of fitness is overall health, primarily cardiovascular health considering we are living an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Cardiovascular exercise, in one form or another, should be included in virtually all training programs. Remember that cardio exercise has numerous benefits, including increased energy, more efficient circulation, and decreased risk of numerous health concerns such as heart disease and stroke, among many others. With better circulation, regular cardio exercise can also help boost your recovery time and promote more effective weight-training workouts. Lots of people avoid cardio exercise simply because they find it boring, however there can be many fun ways to boost your heart rate and get a good workout in. Riding a bike, jogging in the park, playing basketball, hitting a punching bag- these can all be great cardio workouts. Cardio exercise doesn't have to be overly demanding; as long as it is done fairly regularly at a moderate intensity, you will get the benefits of this activity. Click here to read more about cardio.

Another often-neglected yet vital component of physical fitness is flexibility. By stretching regularly and increasing the mobility of your joints, you will minimize your chances of injury. By exercising smart and staying injury-free, you will have a better chance of staying in great shape your entire life. In fact, when the joints are not tight and restrictive, a person’s range of motion will increase and they may improve their performance in a strength training exercise simply from regular stretching alone. Obviously then, combining stretching with strength training would result in even better increases in performance. Remember that stretching doesn’t have to take long, simply doing a few exercises for 5-10 minutes per day can do wonders for improving or maintaining flexibility.

Listening to your Body

This principle is definitely the foundation upon which a solid fitness program should be established. This point cannot be emphasized enough; it is truly vital that you listen to your body. A program that works great for one person may be less effective for another, just as certain exercises will prove to be more useful for certain people. Everyone's body is completely different and thus will respond to various training methods in a different manner than the next person. This is why your fitness goals must be developed for yourself and must reflect your current fitness level and abilities.

The idea of listening to your body is also important on the subject of injuries and pain. There are of course different types of pain that can be felt when exercising intensely and a clear distinction must be made, however. Basically, there is good pain and bad pain. Good pain is the burn that is felt during strenuous exercise- the fatiguing of muscles which are being placed under increasing stress. Good pain can also be in the form of a mild soreness felt in the muscles after exercising. Bad pain is easy to distinguish as this is any type of sharp, shooting, or tearing pain that is felt when training. When dealing with pain from exercise, it is important to use common sense and good judgment. Soreness, burning sensations, and even mild stiffness are generally all signs that an exercise is doing its job properly, whereas any extreme discomfort or sharp, tearing sensations are a sure sign that damage is being done to the muscles. At this point, exercise must be stopped until the injured area has been given a chance to repair itself. Please keep in mind though that you should always consult with a physician when you are injured or experiencing pain. Only general guidelines and anecdotal evidence are provided on this website, and this information is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Variety

Variety is another important concept which is overlooked by many. Too often, people design a general fitness program or follow the exact routine outlined in a magazine week after week, month after month, without making any changes or allowing for individual variations and then they wonder why they fail to make any progress. This of course leads to frustration and often causes the person to abandon his fitness goals. It is a mistake made by many however it can easily be avoided by simply planning ahead. The body must continually be supplied with new challenges to meet in order to become stronger and more defined. It is necessary to attempt new exercises and new routines in order to determine what works for you and what doesn't, and which exercises you enjoy doing. By understanding the training principle of variety, you will be able to get the most benefit out of your fitness program. With all of the different exercises for each body part and the choices between using free weights, machines, cables, etc., not to mention the various angles a person can train the same muscle from, there are literally thousands of different routines you could design for the same muscle group. When taking this into consideration, it is easy to see that the more variety you incorporate into your workouts, the better overall development you will achieve. Read on for more tips about how you can add variety to your workouts.


Return from Training Basics to Home Workout Routines