It's all in your genes! Your genes will decide on your looks and appearance. But if genes are the ultimate judges who are to shape your form and body, then is there any need for you to hit the gym? Well, it is a fact that your body is a generic trait which shares a similarity with your parents' forms. Changing your body type may seem to be difficult, but you can still manage to curve it into a better shape. Thanks to the current status of the modern fitness industry with all of its active and passive gymming techniques! You can be the architect of your own body with these 8 simple steps:
- Know Yourself: The first step for a successful shape-up program should be assessing yourself. It is all about how you feel and about your objectives of weight gain or loss. Know your body shape and decide about the part of the body that you want to trim. Also, decide on the parts which you will like to look muscular. Think whether you will like to make some changes in your posture as well.
- Set Your Goals: Before you begin, it is important have a set of goals in the order of their priority as an input for an effective shape-up program plan. If needed, divide your goals on short term and long term basis. For example, if you are an obese person with a fat belly and you wish to get 6 pack abs then, your priority should be to lose the total body fat content followed by strengthening your abs. Make sure you set practical and realistic goals. Setting a goal not only directs the program but also prepares you for the upcoming challenges.
- Create a Baseline Data: Record a baseline measure to check the current status as well as the effectiveness of the program in future. It can be subjective as well as objective in nature. An initial baseline measure should include weight measurement, circumference measurement and girth measurement (if required). You can also keep photographic records.
- Make Your Action Plan: Plan how you want to look. Getting your body in the desired shape is not just about strenuous workouts! In fact, it's a multidirectional approach and should include proper training regime, healthy diet and even lifestyle modification. Always remember, it is not just about looking good but also about feeling good. You may have to seek help from an expert to plan your shape-up journey.
- Find the Best Workout Regime: The best workout regime is the one which is customized and formulated according to your need and body type. There is no fix protocol and you need to create a regime for yourself. It should have the right combination of strength as well as cardio training. Your exercise regime should be based on all the principles of training like adaptation, progression, reversibility and overtraining. Various programs are available which provide three days workout in a week, four days workout in a week and even daily exercises. Experts have their own opinions in this regard and an appropriate choice has to be made on the basis of your goals as well. Notably, the quality of gym practice is more important than the time spent there.
- Opt for a Proper Diet: Many of you may feel that diet is less important in the shape-up process. But you should note that diet can be one of the culprits responsible for your bad shape. Your diet must be able to complement your hard workout regime. Proper diet is of great importance not just to maintain the normal bodily functions but also to fuel your workout. Your goal should decide your diet. For example, if you aim for building muscles and undergoing strength training, then it is very important for you to consume protein rich diet. If you are on a weight loss program, then you must not eat too much of food with a high content of fat and sugar. The diet is important for achieving and maintaining a good body shape and hence you should not ignore its importance.
- Be Consistent: Our body has a tendency to resist any change in it. Being irregular with your regime may upset your desired results and make the program ineffective. You can achieve the desired goals provided you are persistent in your endeavors. Remember consistency is the key.
- Avoid Shortcuts: You may come across many commercials which claim to shape you within a short span of time or may even guarantee immediate results! Under such a situation, use your common sense or feel free to ask an expert.
The main problem which may strike the "weak" human minds is disbelief! It is disbelief which makes us impatient. And we then begin to drift away gradually from an exercise regimen. But consistency is the key and the results will definitely take their own time to show up!
