written by john c ashworth
The most important part of your fitness program
As a former fitness coach and personal trainer and currently a fit, healthy fitness over 50 cadre member, people ask me from time to time what it is that I do to keep myself in shape.
My answer always begins with a little context. Because my fitness program is not overly impressive. I’ve just had it going regularly without fail for thirty plus years now.
“I keep going…” I say.
“I never stop. I’ve NEVER stopped.”
How long have YOU been working at it?
Keep going…
Don’t stop.
Look for modes of progression and seek expert advice to aid your quest. A little goes a long way. Especially when you can find a real expert.
I admit it. There’s a lot more to it than just your consistency. Expert personal fitness program design is an art that finds its roots in science. You and your path are unique and need to be treated as such in order for you to achieve your potential.
Consistency, though…
That’s really the key, because without your regular commitment, no fitness program can produce the results you crave.
Ready?
We start here.
Go!
-John
PS My current fitness program includes all of the following: swimming 5-6 days per week (350-500m). Strength training twice per week. Walking 4-6 days per week (1-3 miles). Walking is sometimes curtailed a bit in the winter and in those times, I swim more. When it snows, my snow removal duties also add to the totals. Just as yard work does in the warmer months. And, of course, right at this very moment, my ability to get to the pool has been thwarted by covid-19, so I'm doing my best to adjust and missing that experience terribly 🙁
Here's a screenshot from January of 2020. I cleared about 6 inches of snow that day in addition to my swim. I love the apple fitness tracking system. In combination with the Apple watch this tracking system actually provides a lot of useful data and constant feedback if you want it about how well you're doing with your exercise and activity each day. Will get into that more later.
When you click on the swim workout that was recorded wearing the apple watch in the pool, you get even more specific data and information about your swim, including your average heart rate, which is extremely valuable data and information. Again, I plan to get into more about all of this in future posts about the Apple activity tracking system. I really like it.
PPS If I had to choose the second most important part of your fitness program it would be the tracking. In order to build a proper plan for safe and effective progression of your fitness program, you need to keep track of where you've been.
