WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF A FITNESS TRAINING PROGRAM?
The aim of the training is to improve your level of fitness by developing your balance, co-ordination, flexibility, strength and endurance. To achieve this we do need to exercise outside of our comfort zone otherwise all we do is maintain our current level of fitness. If you can hold a conversation with someone whilst walking or jogging on a treadmill then you are not outside your comfort zone and all you will achieve is to burn a few calories.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO BEFORE I START THIS TRAINING PROGRAM?
If you have not exercised before on a regular basis then I would check with you doctor that it is safe for you to undertake a regular training program.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I TRAIN EACH WEEK?
An approach to a week’s training could be to exercise on 2 or 3 days with a rest day between them e.g. exercise on Monday and Thursday or Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
WHAT WILL A TYPICAL GYM SESSION COMPRISE OF?
Each exercise session will last approximately 1 to 1½ hours and comprise of 5 units of exercise – warm up unit, strength unit, a flexibility, balance, co-ordination and core unit, an endurance unit and a cool down unit.
WHAT IS IN A WARM UP UNIT?
The aim of a warm up unit is to prepare your body for the other session units and should comprise of 5-10 minutes of gentle aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, cycling or rowing) followed by some dynamic stretching exercises – e.g. Arm Swings, Hip circles and twists, Lunges and Ankle Bounce. An explanation of these exercise and other exercises are detailed on the dynamic stretching exercises page. The gentle aerobic exercise on this occasion should be well within your comfort zone and I refer to the speed you should be working at as “talking pace” – you could hold a conversation with somebody whilst exercising. This unit will last between 10 and 15 minutes.
WHAT IS IN A STRENGTH UNIT?
This can comprise of 4 or 5 dumbbell exercises e.g. Standing one leg heel raises, One arm dumbbell rows (alternate), Seated one arm triceps extension, Incline seated dumbbell curls (alternate) and Incline dumbbell bench press. An explanation of these exercise and other exercises are detailed on the dumbbell exercises page. Perform 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions of each exercise using weights where you are near failure to complete the exercise on the last repetition of each set. The strength unit can focus on the upper body as the endurance unit will work strengthen the leg muscles. This unit will last between 15 and 20 minutes.
WHAT IS IN THE FLEXIBILITY, BALANCE, CO-ORDINATION AND CORE UNIT?
The unit comprises of a selection of upper body conditioning exercises – e.g. Sit Ups (upper abdominals), Back Arches (Back), Transversus Abdominis (Abdominal), Hip and Leg raise (Gluteals and hamstrings). An explanation of these exercise and other exercises are detailed on the upper body conditioning exercises page. All the exercises to be done smoothly and slowly to develop balance and coordination. Start with 10 repetitions of each exercise and over time increase the number of repetitions – the focus is quality of movement not quantity of repetitions. This unit will last between 10 and 15 minutes.
WHAT IS IN AN ENDURANCE UNIT?
The endurance (aerobic) unit should comprise of a 20 to 40 minute activity of rowing, running, jogging, cycling or cross-trainer. It could comprise of a mix of these aerobic activities e.g. 10 minutes of jogging, 10 minutes of cycling and 10 minutes of rowing. During this activity you should be working at around 70% of your maximum heart rate and having to concentrate on your breathing – no chance of holding a long conversation with anyone.
WHAT DO I DO IN THE COOL DOWN?
The aim of a cool down unit is to remove waste products from the muscles, to realign muscle fibres and re-establish their normal range of movement. This unit should comprise of a 5 minute gentle jog or cycle followed by some static stretching exercise which you hold for 10 seconds e.g. Chest Stretch, Shoulder and Triceps Stretch, Hamstring Stretch, Calf Stretch, Hip and Thigh Stretch and Quadriceps Stretch. An explanation of these exercise and other exercises are detailed on the static stretching exercise page. This unit will last between 10 and 15 minutes.
WHAT DO I NEED TO TAKE WITH ME?
Take a drink, it does not need to be a fancy sports drink, plain water is fine. Take a mouthful of your drink at regular intervals throughout your training session – e.g. every 5 to 10 minutes. Also take a towel to wipe down the equipment after you have used it.
HOW DO I PREVENT BOREDOM?
To prevent boredom vary the exercises you do each week and consider listening to your favourite music as you exercise.
DO I NEED TO DO ANY OTHER EXERCISE OR ACTIVITY WORK?
I would consider going for a 20 to 30 minute gentle walk (this could be shopping) when you are not at the gym. This will help develop your aerobic fitness, balance, coordination and general strength. If you have a dog, problem solved – just take it for its walk(s) each day.
HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN MY FITNESS?
In general it will be anything for 4 to 6 weeks before you start to see an improvement in your general fitness. You will begin to notice that you can perform more repetitions of an exercise, the dumbbells are getting heavier and the endurance sessions getting longer.
DO I NEED TO KEEP A TRAINING DIARY – IF YES WHAT DO I RECORD?
YES – record what you did in the session e.g. exercises, sets, repetitions, weights, duration of the aerobic session and what it comprised of, how you were feeling before and after the session and any niggling injuries/twinges you are becoming aware of. The diary helps you to monitor how your training is going and the progress you are making.