Staying Focused - Tips for making you stay focused on the Fitness Program
Trying to get fit on autopilot is like driving somewhere new when you're listening to the radio and not looking at a map- you'll probably get there eventually but it will take you a lot longer than if you focus on what you're doing! The more you concentrate on good form as you work out, the greater the rewards you will see.
As a personal trainer part of my job is keeping my clients focused on form throughout their sessions. On this program it's up to you to stay mentally alert, so you know you're recruiting the right muscles for each exercise(no cheating!) and not doing anything that could cause injury. Being focused also makes workouts twice as relaxing, as you get a complete break from the rest of your life. So enjoy working out with good form, be proud of the control exercises as you lift and lower weights, and relish in the improvements you can feel in your performance as you go along.
The detailed instructions in this site are the ones I give to my clients. Follow them closely the first few times you do the workouts until you internalize them; then it's down to you to do your own mental checks. After a while you'll be able to use the thumbnail sketches of the workouts, but it will be worth re-reading the fuller instructions now and again to make sure you aren't getting into any bad habits. Also make use of the tips given next to each exercise, these can help you get a little bit more out of each exercise, or help you adapt the program to your existing level of fitness(for some of you, doing 10 full press-ups right now might seem as likely as climbing Everest! Don't worry- it will get easier).
Functional Fitness
Fitness isn't just about vanity and the body beautiful; it's about energy for life. Sure, you want to look thinner, stronger, leaner and more attractive, but you probably want to apply that body strength to your life- whether you're playing soccer, climbing mountains or running around after children.
This program uses a mixture of weights, cardio and plyometric circuits to make sure you get as functionally fit as possible. If you work out already, the chances are you do a mixture of cardio and weights already. Plyometrics, which involve explosive movements such as squat thrusts and jumps, are the circuits that will enable you to apply your new strength quickly. When you can do this you'll be able to get off the starting line quickly, accelerate up a hill, and bound over obstacles. You'll feel fit for life.
The Challenge
It is strange but true that we often don't want to do tests, but afterwards we feel great that we rose to the challenge After all, it's human nature to take on challenges- and to want to win! This is why the program includes a once-a-month plyometric circuit called 'The Challenge' This is a 50-minute circuit that allows you to measure your increasing fitness. Just by doing it you've already passed.