Finding the Right Workout for Your Fitness Goals

When it comes to exercising, figuring out the best way to work out for your unique goals can be challenging and a little overwhelming.

To help narrow it down, focus your search based on the fitness goal you are trying to reach. Whether that’s becoming stronger, leaner or just healthier overall – there’s a workout for you. Check out some of these options below to start working toward your goal:

• Body Weight Training – This type of workout involves no equipment – you use your own body weight to create resistance and results. This means no gym membership, no weights and no hassle. You can perform these kinds of exercises without leaving the comfort of your home. Exercises in this category can include sit-ups, push-ups, lunges, and squats. Body weight routines are aimed at developing lean muscle, but that’s not the only thing they help with. You can help your joints and bones, decrease the risk of diabetes and increase your metabolism.
• Aerobic Exercise – More commonly known as “cardio”, aerobic exercises get your heart rate up, which delivers more oxygen to your cells. Anything from running, cycling and even swimming are great examples. These activities torch calories, which can help with losing weight. While these activities can aid in increasing lean muscle, they help one progress more in their stamina and endurance.
• Weight Lifting – Weight lifting, another form of resistance training, is more well understood and can be done in a variety of locations. You can lift weights at home or at the gym and even do some using your own body weight. Lifting does not have to solely consist of bench pressing – it can be free weights (dumb bells) or using machines. Unless you have this kind of equipment at home, a gym membership may be necessary. In addition to strengthening muscles and tissues, studies have shown that lifting increases bone density, which can help in the fight against osteoporosis.

The exercises on this list shouldn’t be viewed as mutually exclusive. Strength training can help improve performance in aerobic exercises and body weight training can be a precursor to weight training. Workouts can (and should) have combinations of the above categories. It’s all about finding the right combination that works best for you.

What’s your favorite workout and what benefits does it provide you? Tell us in the comments.

If you liked this blog, check out:

• Top 3 Reasons You Should Be Lifting Weights to Beat Stress
• Forever Young: How Strength Training Can Help You Age Gracefully
• No Gym? No Problem. Get in Cardio Without Leaving Home

Photo credit: Matt Madd