1. Find Your Motivation
Define your fitness goals. Do you want to lose 50 pounds, or are you just hoping to tone things up a bit and create better fitness habits? Do you have a wedding or another major event coming up that you'd like to be in shape for? Whatever your personal motivation is for creating a workout schedule, write it down and keep it accessible so that you can remind yourself of your goals on the days when working out is the last thing you want to do.
2. Put It on the Calendar
Get out your calendar and mark down the days and times when you're going to work out. Make a realistic schedule based on your work, family and social commitments. If your life is extra busy, you may need to wake up an hour earlier in the mornings to squeeze in your workout. You should exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes to an hour. If you have a major fitness goal to accomplish, you may want aim for five to six workouts each week.
3. It's Game Time
Make sure to include some form of aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching in most of your workouts. Examples of aerobic exercises are running, fast walking, swimming, hiking, tennis, soccer and basketball. To get that heart rate up, you could also take a dance or aerobics class, jump rope, run on the treadmill or elliptical, do the stair climber or ride your bike. When it's time to strengthen those muscles, lift some weights or do sets of sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, lunges and squats. To work on your flexibility, take a yoga class or do your own stretches before and after working out. Change it up so you're not doing the exact same workout every time.
4. Location, Location, Location
When it's nice out, you can do a majority of your aerobic exercise outdoors if you choose. Look into joining a gym near you so that you have the option of taking aerobics or strength training classes while being able to use their machines, weights and swimming pool. If you're crunched for time, you can get a great workout in at home by stretching in your living room, going for a jog in your neighborhood and finishing up with some sit-ups, push-ups and squats back at the house. You can even buy a yoga or aerobics DVD to do at home whenever you have time.
5. Motivational Buddies
Find someone to work out with you. Whether it's your spouse, one of your children or a friend, you'll be more motivated to get off the couch and work out if you have a set time to meet someone. When creating your workout schedule, plan the dates and times of your workouts in advance with your workout buddy so that the two of you can hold each other accountable and stick to your plan.
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