Designing an Inexpensive Exercise Program

One of the best ways to get into better shape or maintain a healthy figure is to keep a regular exercise routine. For most people, however, things such as the expense of a gym membership and boredom with ready made exercise programs can prevent them from finding an enjoyable way to keep in shape. Thankfully, though, there are steps that you can take to design a customized exercise program that is both dynamic and inexpensive.

Have a Conversation with Your Doctor

Once you decide that you want to begin living a healthier life, the first step you should take is have a conversation with your medical professional. A good exercise program should be seen as part of a new, healthier lifestyle, complete with potential dietary changes, correct use of any medicine that you're taking, and assessments of your emotional health. Talk to your doctor about your desired goals, and what techniques or ideas that he has to help you reach them. Often medical professionals will have access to information on the effectiveness of certain exercises, ideas to prevent injury, and ways to help you stay on target. Also, by bringing in your doctor early, and allowing him to monitor your progress, he might be able foresee potential problems if they arise.

Set up a Specific Time

One of the easiest ways to lose your way in an exercise program is to not be on a schedule. Having a specific time during the day or week that you set aside to exercise can mean the difference between sticking to a program and giving up. By choosing a specific time, such as 6:30 AM or 7:00 pm each day for ½ hour exercise, you'll accomplish two things. First, you'll have something to look forward to, and you'll train your mind and body that exercise is a welcomed part to a daily routine.

Include Your Interests

For most people, the reason that they stop exercising is because they become bored with doing the same thing over and over again. In addition, doing the same exercise all the time will cause your muscles to reach a plateau faster, and not reach their full potential. So how do you combat both mental and muscle boredom? One of the best ways is to use a two prong approach. The first prong is to exercise different parts of your body during each exercise session. Next, is to make sure your exercise have something to do with your interests. For example, if you have always liked watching kung fu movies, you can design an aerobic exercise session full of martial arts punches and kicks. Or, if you like the smoothness and serenity of yoga, borrow a video or DVD from your library and use yoga as a stretching exercise. Personally, I imagine I'm climbing through a boulder field or scaling a cliff for my stretching exercises. My sectional couch becomes a boulder field, and the top shelves of a nearby cabinets act as a goal for my stretching arms.

Be Creative with Your Equipment Choices

Another reason why many people stop or don't even start is they feel that the equipment needed for a successful exercise program. However, with a little ingenuity, and a creative view of every day things, your exercise equipment can cost you very little indeed.

One of your best sources of lifting weights is your own body. If you think about it, and use your own body weight correctly, it can adjust to what you need at the time that you need it. Classic exercises like push-ups, crunches and leg lifts not only strengthen the muscles in the targeted areas, but they also contribute to the strength of your abdominal core. Plus, you don't have to worry about carrying around weights or folding bulky exercise equipment, so you don't have an excuse to not exercise.

While using your own bodyweight to offer resistance does have a number of advantages, sometimes there is a desire to use something else. Again, the ability to think creatively can mean the difference between keeping an exercise program running, and calling it quits. For example, if you're concerned about affording free weights, a gallon milk jug filled with water can be used as an eight pound weight. A pair of canvas bag filled with sand and sewn shut, plus an old wooden broomstick can create a dumbbell for bench presses, or a pair of heavier free weights. Even a pair of old stretchy pants cut into strips can be used as resistance bands. By using your imagination, you'll be able to create the exercise equipment that you need for your chosen program.

Get Your Friends Involved

It has been shown time and time again that for most people an exercise program is much more effective when done with a group of friends. While having a group of friends to go to aerobics class with you is a great way to stay motivated, it is not the only method available. One of the best ways to get great exercise is through competitive sports. A pick up game of basketball can not only give you the aerobic exercise of running around the court, but it also can aid in your flexibility, hand eye co-ordination, and your explosive strength with your jump shot.

These are just a few of the steps that you can take to make sure that your exercise program is one that you can stick to, and be effective. By taking the time to think things through, you'll find that there are a number of different ways to get yourself into better shape.