Google Fitness Challenge gives you 147 million results. Apparently, they are happening in home gyms, facilities and social media platforms across North America. A fitness challenge adds excitement to the routine, "What is it? A challenge? Oh yeah, turn it on!" Generally, a 30-day fitness challenge can be:
· An invitation to participate in a contest of skill, strength, etc.
· A task or situation in which a person's ability is tested
This abundance of choice allows us to be a connoisseur of fitness challenges. We can choose the one that best suits our abilities, preferences and time availability. And when we successfully complete one challenge, we can try another challenge.
Not all fitness challenges are created equal. Some are very small. A four-minute challenge that promises to burn enough fat, really?! Some are not safe at all. A month of 3295 squats can get you an appointment with your Body Transformation Challenge. Here's a checklist of criteria to consider as you begin your search for the best home-based fitness challenge for you.
1. Comprehensive and good value. Free challenges are usually just a list of exercises, and by the third day your motivation will wane. A professionally developed challenge is worth the small investment, especially if it includes helpful resources that take the guesswork out of it. Look for guides, posters or webpages with lots of pictures and descriptions. Videos (just clips or maybe longer) can bring workouts to life in the privacy and convenience of your own home.
2. Adaptable. A Big Challenge encourages users to tailor workouts each step to their fitness levels, abilities and health conditions. Each exercise within the challenge provides a different intensity, complexity or level of impact on the joints. Beware of cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all programs that are too rigid and potentially unsafe and frustrating. Your challenge should be exactly that... yours.
3. Real. Red Flag guarantees a bikini-ready body, eliminating muffin tops and other trouble areas quickly. These statements are inaccurate, unprofessional, disrespectful and will make you feel like a big failure. Yes, you can lose weight on your fitness challenge, maybe a lot. But put the aesthetics aside and let your goal be as simple as, "I'm going to take on this challenge, no matter what." Then pat yourself on the back when you do it.
4. Assistant. Nothing can replace a one-on-one session with a personal trainer, but a well-planned challenge can include supportive elements that increase personal accountability. This could be some or all of the following:
· A logbook or other method to record your efforts and track your progress over time.
· Easy to navigate website with relevant information and 'Contact Us' form. (Added bonus when your emailed questions get a timely and thoughtful response from an actual trainer.)
· A social media site, such as Facebook, that creates a community of other challengers, a 'we're in this together' feeling. This is a site where you enjoy spending your time interacting with like-minded challengers.
5. Reliable. A great challenge backed by real science, healthy trends and best practices. The creator of the challenge should be a certified trainer with expertise in program design who truly cares about results for each client. Exercising too vigorously carries the risk of injury, and if you get injured, you can't get fit. If you are unsure of the quality of your challenge, take it to a qualified trainer in your community for their feedback and advice. For more details contact us now.
