Staying motivated is one of the biggest challenges in your fitness journey. Consistency is key to progress, but ironically it can be hard to stay motivated if you feel like you're not making progress. Tracking your progress can provide a tangible record of your achievements and help you see the results of all your hard work. Here are four easy strategies to keep an eye on your progress and keep that motivation high.
1. Maintain a workout journal about your fitness progress
Writing down your workouts in a journal of some sort gives you a tangible record of your progress. It also makes it much easier to remember what weight you were using on a given exercise, which is always a bonus!
You can use a traditional notebook for this, digital tools like spreadsheets or Google Docs, or a number of apps specifically designed for logging workout data. Make it a habit to record your workouts immediately after you finish them. Be sure to note details like exercises performed, sets, reps, and weight. It can also be helpful to record how you felt during and after a workout, as well as how hard you found your exercises. A simple 1-10 Rate of Perceived Exertion scale can be a terrific tool—even if the weights your lifting are staying the same, if your perceived exertion is decreasing over time, you're making progress!
Maintaining a consistent workout journal can provide valuable insights into your training and help keep you motivated by seeing how your fitness is improving over time.
2. Measure performance metrics
Tracking performance metrics can provide a more comprehensive view of your progress. This might include running times for a set distance or repetition maximum testing where you find the highest weight you can lift (with good form!) for a given number of reps.
Measuring and recording tests like these with some regularity can help you see improvements in strength and endurance. Again, you can use tools like spreadsheets, specialised apps, or just an old-fashioned notebook to record these details. Over time, you can analyse this data to see trends, make adjustments to your routine, and set new goals.
3. Invest in a fitness tracker
A more automated approach to tracking things can be to invest in a wearable device such as those from Fitbit or Garmin. These devices will track heart rate and many can be used to track various forms of workouts, including strength training and multiple forms of cardio. They are also great for keeping an eye on your overall physical activity throughout the week, tracking steps and even providing reminders to break up sitting time and stay active throughout the day.
Although they can be expensive, these devices can be a worthwhile investment in your health and fitness. The data collected can also be synced with various fitness apps, providing data visualisation and a more comprehensive view of your fitness journey.
4. Keep fit during injury recovery, too.
If you do happen to get injured, don't stop. Doing nothing can be the worst option. Rather than watch your fitness progress go backwards, find out how you can keep fit during injury recovery.
Conclusion
By implementing some or all of these strategies, you can effectively log and track your workouts, monitor your fitness progress, and improve your motivation. If you're looking for more guidance and advice on your fitness journey, let us know at Xpress Personal Training.
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