5 Realistic Fitness Goals For Beginners
Goals are important. They give us something to strive for and help us measure our progress. However, sometimes we can get a little too ambitious with our goals, especially when we're just starting our fitness journey.
That's why it's important to set realistic fitness goals. Not only will this help you stay motivated, but it will also increase your chances of achieving your goals. Of course, the goals you set should challenge you, but they should be manageable.
Here are Five examples of realistic fitness goals for beginners:
1)Walking
A walking program is an excellent goal for beginners. Start by finding a safe place to walk, such as a park or neighbourhood street. Then, gradually increase the amount of time you spend walking each day. You can also add simple exercises, such as lunges or squats, to help build muscle and increase your heart rate.
Walking is a great way to get active and improve your health. It's low-impact, so it's easy on your joints and can be done anywhere. Plus, it's a free form of exercise! So, walking programs are a great way to start your fitness journey.
The benefits of walking are many. Walking can help you lose weight, improve cardiovascular health, and increase stamina. It's also a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood. In addition, you don't need special equipment to walk, just a good pair of shoes.
2) Build your upper body strength
Your arms, shoulders, chest, and back make up your upper body. So when we talk about strengthening your upper body, we're talking about working those muscle groups to make them stronger. You don't need fancy equipment to do this - you can use your body weight, dumbbells, or resistance bands.
You can do many exercises to target all the muscles in your upper body. Here are a few examples:
Push-ups: These work your chest, shoulders, and triceps (the muscles on the back of your upper arm).
Pull-ups: As well as working your back muscles, pull-ups also work your biceps (the muscles on the front of your upper arm).
Shoulder presses: These work your shoulders and triceps.
Dumbbell rows: These work your back muscles.
Start with 2-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions of each exercise, using a weight that feels challenging but not impossible to lift. As you get stronger, you can increase the number of sets and reps or add more challenging exercises to your routine.
3) Start running
Running is a great way to get fit; you can do it anywhere, anytime. It's also a great way to meet new people and explore new places. If you're new to running, here are some tips to get started:
Start slow. Running is a high-impact activity, so it's important to ease into it gradually to avoid injury. Begin by walking for a few minutes, then add a few seconds of running every few minutes until you run for the entire workout.
Set goals. Realistic goals will help you stay motivated as you progress your running program. For example, try setting a goal to run for 30 minutes three times per week or to run a 5K race within eight weeks.
Find a support group. For example, joining a running club or participating in a group training program can help you stay accountable and motivated.
Be safe. Running in well-lit, populated areas is the best way to stay safe while you're getting your miles in.
4) Work on your flexibility
Flexibility is an important but often overlooked component of physical fitness. Improved flexibility can lead to a better range of motion in your joints, less pain and stiffness, and improved posture. If you're starting your fitness journey, here are some realistic goals to help you improve your flexibility.
Some exercises that can help improve your flexibility are:
Stretching - try a basic stretching routine every day.
Yoga - yoga is an excellent way to increase flexibility, and classes are available for all levels of ability.
Pilates - pilates can help lengthen and tone your muscles, improving your overall flexibility.
Barre - barre workouts often incorporate stretches and movements that can help improve your flexibility.
Swimming - a great low-impact activity that can help stretch and lengthen your muscles.
5) Weight lifting - Start Slowly!
Lifting weights is a great way to improve your fitness and overall health. But if you're new to lifting, it can take time to know where to start. So here are realistic weightlifting goals for beginners that will help you get started on the right foot.
Set a goal to lift weights three times per week.
Start with light weights and work your way up.
Focus on compound exercises that work for multiple muscle groups.
Incorporate both upper - and lower-body exercises into your routine.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.
Eat a healthy diet to support your weightlifting goals.
Get plenty of rest to recover from your workouts and avoid injury.
Remember Rest is Important
Fitness is not all about working out and stressing your body. It's also important to take a break and let your body recover. A good goal to set for yourself is to take one day off from exercise each week. This will give your muscles a chance to recover and grow stronger.
Also, make sure to get plenty of sleep each night. This will help your body repair itself and prepare for another exercise day.
Focus On Your Gluteal Muscles
Your gluteal muscles are responsible for a lot of movement in your body, so it's important to keep them strong and healthy. You can include exercises that focus on your glutes in your workout routine.
Some exercises targeting your glutes are squats, lunges, and hip thrusts. Strong glutes can help improve your posture, reduce your risk of injuries, and make everyday activities like walking and climbing stairs easier.
Bottom line
Fitness is vital for overall health and well-being. Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and on track if you're starting your fitness journey. Try setting goals to improve your cardio fitness, flexibility, strength, and recovery. And remember to focus on your diet and hydration as well.