How to Be Your Own Personal Trainer

When it comes to working out, we get the main idea: to workout. But, how many of you have walked into the gym, looked around, and just stood there-clueless?

Sometimes, there are so many machines and gadgets that it can be hard to determine what you should really be doing. Luckily, it really isn't that hard to train yourself. With some basic principles in mind, you will be confident and able to take charge of your own routine!

Here are 5 ways to create your own workout:

1. Determine how often you will workout weekly and for what time period. It is recommended to aim for at least 5 days a week for at least 30 minutes of activity per day. If you are able to do 5 days, then do 5 days. If you are only able to do 3, do 3. Choose the amount of days that will work best for you and your schedule and make the most of it. Then, choose a length of time for your workout. 30-60 minutes is recommended. Make a workout calendar such as the one below or schedule and stick to it!

2. Create a warm up or cardio routine to start with. Warm-ups are generally in short duration, about 5-10 minutes. An example of a good warm up can be a 10 minute jog or even a 5 minute HIIT session to get your heart rate elevated and your muscles warmed up. Stretching is also considered essential as well. Warming up prior to your workout reduces risk of injury.

3. Create your main workout. During your main workout, you will focus on working one or two muscle groups. Your goal isn't to work every single muscle in your body in one workout. The next day, you will focus on a different muscle group or two, allowing the groups you worked the day prior to rest and rebuild. For example, Monday you will work legs and chest and on Tuesday you will work abs and biceps. Then on Wednesday, you may work chest and triceps and back on Thursday you may be doing legs and chest again, etc. Create a cycle or routine that will benefit you the most. The best way to finding your routine is to go with the flow and experiment.

4.  Create a cool down routine. Just like the warm up, cool downs are short in duration, about 5-10 minutes long (some longer). You can do the same exact thing for your cool down as you did for your warm up or you can take things easier and slower. Personally, I love a light jog or yoga session after my workouts. This is a time to relax those muscles that have tensed up to contract and work hard during your workout routine.

5. Make it a habit. It takes 21 days to make a habit or so they say. Keep going with your new routine until it actually becomes a regular routine that you won't have to think twice about. When you get bored or tired of it, try mixing up your routine to keep things fresh and fun.