Quite frankly, if your idea of physical activity is getting off the couch to go to the kitchen during commercials... then any kind of training program whatsoever should produce some positive results.
At least in the beginning.
But when the novelty of the workout program wears off and the improvements start to become few and far between... most people just give up and return to the unhealthy lifestyle habits of before the workout program.
Choose your successful workout program wisely by adhering to these four criteria.
A successful workout program must be...
1) effective in getting results 2) interesting enough to hold your attention 3) modifiable to your goals, needs, abilities and limitations 4) sustainable over time
If you follow a workout program that is not designed to improve performance and proven to get results, that is boring to the point that you don't want to do it, that is a cookie-cutter program that does not specifically address your goals, needs, abilities and limitations and that is unsustainable over time... That workout program will ultimately FAIL to produce any long lasting physical benefits.
Let's look at these criteria a little closer...
Effective Nothing will stop you from continuing your workout program faster than failing to get the results you seek.
You train hard so that you can see, feel, experience, and enjoy the benefits of strength, conditioning and fitness improvement while applying those benefits to sport, work and life.
If your workout program does not provide this... what's the point of doing it?
Interesting Let's face it... most physical training workout programs are just plain boring.
At first you are determined to succeed... then it becomes forced labor... then you are bored to tears with the thought of going through the workout program one more time... and finally you just quit all together.
And after all... you probably weren't getting the results you wanted for all your hard work anyway!
And as we all know, any workout program is only effective if you actually do it.
If you are bored and disinterested... you will FAIL to reach your potential and meet your goals.
Modifiable Every individual has different goals, needs, abilities and limitations... And these factors must be reflected in the workout program for it to be successful.
A cookie-cutter type program that is not geared toward your specific success is doomed from the beginning.
In order to deliver long lasting physical improvements, the program you choose must be based on proven training principles... but also be modifiable to you.
A workout program that works for someone else might not work for you... and what works for you now might not work for you in the future.
Physical fitness success is a journey... not a destination.
Sustainable There are a lot of workout programs out there to choose from.
And some of them might actually work... for a while!
If you follow the workout program to the letter you will see some results... but will the prescribed workout program become a part of your lifestyle?
If not... the benefits will disappear as soon as you stop the workout program.
And if you are not going to enjoy long term benefits from all your hard work... is the workout program worth doing?
In order to discover a successful workout program you must find one that will become part of your lifestyle.
And as your goals, needs, abilities and limitations change over time... your workout program should also.
In conclusion When looking for a successful workout program... use your common sense.
Don't be fooled by pop culture hype, pretty fitness models, unrealistic claims and marketing tricks.
Ask yourself these questions...
Will that workout program really work for me?
Is that workout program interesting and diversified enough to become part of my lifestyle?
Is that workout program modifiable to my goals, needs, abilities and limitations?
Is that workout program sustainable over time?
If you answered yes to the above questions you are well on your way to discovering a successful workout program that will provide a lifetime of strength, conditioning and fitness improvements.
Now that sounds like a workout program worth doing!
Back in the old days, and I mean the really old days like in the Stone Age, how do you think our ancestors worked up the strength and endurance to defend themselves, out-run, and hunt animals with their bare hands? I can tell one thing, they didn't sit in a gym lifting metal or jog slowly on a treadmill all day long.
Instead, they used their bodies to the fullest extent. While they probably didn't have exercise routines like we do today, in my mind they didn't need it. Since nothing was automated back then like it is now, they used their own bodies as a machine. They used it to sprint after an animal, to throw a spear at it, and to ultimately track it down and possibly wrestle the animal until it died.
How many people do you know today that can do that? I'm guessing probably no one.
Somewhere between the ages of cavemen and the people of today, the art of bodyweight exercises were lost. Although it's slowly starting to make a comeback, I'd really like to see it spread even further. Therefore, I give you the 5 Reasons To Start Performing Bodyweight Exercises.
1) You Can Do Them Anywhere ? Bodyweight exercises are great because you only need about 10 feet of room, at the most. You can do them in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, outside, or even at a hotel with just a bed and a TV.
2) It Saves You Money ? Another great part of this type of training is that if you don't want to, you don't need to buy a single thing. No more paying $50 per month for a gym membership, just to have to sit there and wait for the next sweat covered macho man to get off the bench press. Although there are many things you can buy, especially once you start progressing, it's not necessary to get a great workout.
3) Mind/Body Connection ? You're body is made up of hundreds and thousands of different tendons, ligaments, and muscles. However, they are all one in the same. Unlike performing ?isolated? exercises like bodybuilder do, bodyweight exercises tend to use your entire body which can greatly enhance your mind-body connection. Focusing on the here and now, instead of the past or future, is an amazing experience when performing bodyweight exercises.
4) Full Body Workout Benefits ? Another amazing benefit of bodyweight exercises is that you can get an amazing flexibility, endurance, and strength workout in just a few minutes a day. If you don't want to, you don't even have to perform ?cardiovascular? exercises because many of these exercises, the hindu squat or hindu pushup for example, can give you all 3 types of body improvement in just 1 exercise. Another added benefit is that if you use more muscles while exercising you will release more HGH (Human Growth Hormone) into your bloodstream which helps build muscle, lose fat, and keep you healthier and younger.
5) They're Fun! ? The fifth reason to do bodyweight exercises is simply the fact that they aren't boring like most other exercises! One of the major problems people have with weight loss is motivation. So how do you cure motivation? It's simple; just do something you actually enjoy! If you enjoy doing what you're currently doing, that's great. However, most people only workout because they know the benefits of it. They dread going to the gym and therefore put out a very weak effort to get in shape. Do something you love and enjoy and you'll see improvements much quicker.
It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or have been working out for decades. Doing these types of exercises can greatly enhance your strength, flexibility, endurance, and yes, they can even add pounds of muscle to your frame. No matter what program you're currently following, just try to add some bodyweight exercises and see how much you will start to love them.
Both Coachlomax & Reeveso are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Coachlomax has sinced written about articles on various topics from Aerobics, Gym and Fitness. Coach Lomax is a strength, conditioning and fitness coach dedicated to building better humans for sport, work and life. Learn more at