Every week I write out my schedule for the upcoming week. This helps me stay on track in so many ways:
- It keeps me committed. Each workout is an appointment. If I don’t keep it I need a really good reason for breaking it. I updated my plans with my status and I hate to see INCOMPLETE by a workout.
- It helps me plan my strength training properly. I like to strength train at least 3 times a week. Sometimes, I accomplish that through total body workouts, sometimes circuit training, sometimes split routines. Pre-planning helps me make sure that I get all body parts strength trained with the proper amount of rest between parts.
- It helps me choose the most effective cardio based on my strength workouts. I am usually training for a race so I have to run 3 days a week. One day is a long run. Obviously, I don’t want to do a heavy leg workout the day before I have to run 12 miles. I won’t have a good run if my legs are sore.
- It allows me to manage cardio intensity. I like to go hard when I do cardio – it is so hard for me to do low-impact exercise! However, I do recognize that I will not always be a spring chicken. I am now trying to schedule a lower-impact workout between some of the higher ones. For example, I will do a Cardio Coach workout on elliptical at the gym on Mondays since I tend to have a long run on Sundays.
- It fights off boredom! Perhaps I change my routine up too often but I like to switch focus every week. I am still in fat loss mode so I don’t feel the need to lift heavy for 3 months at a time. So I alternate the type of strength training I do every week. One week I might do slow/heavy lifting, the next supersets, circuit training next and finally total body workouts.
