Almost as hard as achieving your fitness goals can be maintaining your fitness level. If you have reached the level you wish to be at, your next step is to ensure you create a plan that keeps you on track. According to the United States Soccer continuing education department, lapses in training for even a month can cause fitness setbacks that take longer to regain.
Focus on Your Success
When you reach a goal, it's natural to lose some feelings of motivation surrounding fitness. Replace these thoughts with reminders of how good you feel, how proud you are for reaching this goal and how committed you are to maintaining your overall fitness level. When you are feeling discouraged or uncertain about whether you want to go to the gym for a workout, Canadian Living fitness writers suggest you recall a time you felt successful with your fitness program. Use those feelings to carry you through and continue meeting your goals.
Prevent Injuries
If you are looking to maintain your fitness level, there's a chance you may stick to the same routine. This can lead to overuse injuries that occur when your body consistently performs the same exercise. Examples include swimmer's shoulder or shin splints. Resting between workouts or alternating exercises can help to prevent overuse injuries, according to Florida State University.
Other ways to prevent injuries include never skipping on a proper warm-up and cool-down before and after exercising. This involves light stretching and working your way up to a high-intensity level instead of jumping right into your workout.
Adjust Intensity to Reduce Frequency
If you are currently working out six days per week to meet your fitness goals, yet are feeling burned out or concerned about potential injury, consider upping the intensity of your workout. According to the United States Soccer continuing education department, increasing exercise intensity can allow you to maintain the same fitness level while exercising for a shorter duration or with less frequency. When you reduce intensity, however, you are likely to lose at least a portion of your cardiovascular capabilities.
Find a Workout Partner
If accountability was a factor in reaching your fitness goals, a fitness partner may serve as an outside source to help you achieve them. Find a partner who enjoys the same activities as you, or who exercises at the same place you do. By working out with another person, you not only further your friendship, but you also maintain your health goals.
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