We instinctively know that we all different and so are our particular circumstances. You buy clothing to match your shape and appearance, shoes to match the size of your feet but for some reason we believe that when it comes to fitness, there is some magical best program that would be perfect for all of us.

The reality is, it’s very unlikely that exercising in the same manner as someone else you saw at the gym, or on a program your friend has been doing, is unlikely to be optimal for you. Here are the factors you can consider when personalising your own fitness routine.

3 Factors For Your Own Fitness Program

1. Intensity

It has been proven that some people’s physiology has been programmed to be more comfortable at higher or lower intensities. This is due to a multitude of factors such as: innate muscle fibre types, oxidative stress capacity, mitochondria energy efficiency, etc.

Many of these factors can be improved upon but some of us start higher or lower as a genetic base. So if you are the person that still feels like throwing up after five months of consistent HIIT training, then maybe it is not entirely for your lack of trying and you should try something a bit more chill for your routine.

2. Recovery Time

This is another good one to mention, as many people do not recover well after an intense workout. This can lead to overtraining and not achieving the goals that they set out to achieve. If you are feeling a dull ache the day after a workout, then that is likely normal and just Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).

However, if there is a sharp pain or an intense muscle cramp that occurs after every workout session, then it might be time to tone it down a bit. On the contrary, if you always feel fresh and recovered after every workout then you might be able to push a little harder in your next workouts.

3. Goals

Probably the most important factor to consider are the goals you have set out to achieve. A training program with an end goal of losing weight may well look quite different to a program where the goal is to build as much muscle as possible. There are some elements that could look similar of course but the routine should look different enough to be noticeable.

Conclusion:

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when constructing an exercise routine for your particular goals. Just remember – everyone is different. It’s fine to blaze your own fitness trail!

When starting any new diet or nutritional program, we recommend that you seek the advice and support of a qualified professional to ensure that it is suitable for you and your individual circumstances.