Here’s how to guarantee you’re getting a ‘good’ workout — according to fitness experts
Amid the rise of cozy cardio and lazy girl workouts, aspiring exercisers are wondering: What constitutes a “good” workout?
While many might believe adequate exercise has to involve blood, sweat and tears, experts say that’s not necessarily the case.
“The idea of a ‘good’ workout is entirely subjective to all of us,” Christian Erwin, a senior instructor at Barry’s, told The Post.
The World Health Organization recommends that adults aged 18 to 64 should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity a week.
But Erwin clarified that your ideal workout routine “depends entirely on your goals” noting that “we all have different objectives and ideas of what strength or fitness means to us.”
So, the first step to ensuring you’re getting a sufficent workout is to decide what your goals are.
Are you training to run a marathon in under three hours or do you want to make it up the stairs carrying your groceries without getting out of breath?
If you’re aiming for the former, run straight for that cardio, but if you’re trying to build muscle, simply start with weights.
Setting a goal will help you to determine what a “good workout” means to you in the long run but also on a daily basis.
“That can mean different things to different people, or different things to the same person depending on the day,” Samantha Scupp, founder of Heatwise hot yoga studio, told The Post.
Not every workout needs to leave you out of breath and dripping in sweat.
Some days just moving your body through a simple routine or stretching is enough to help you reach your goals.
Experts agree that how often you exercise is more important than how hard the exercise is.
“Consistency is key with any workout regimen so the toughest most ‘effective’ workout won’t be beneficial if you don’t want to repeat it and consistently make it a priority,” Erwin explained.
And while keeping up with a set workout regimen can help you to stay on track to meet your goals, you need to make it work for you.
“Listen to what your body is telling you,” personal trainer and author of “Own Your Wellness: Giving You the Tools to Break Through Your Health Plateaus” Daniella Dayoub Forrest told The Post.
If you’re not seeing the results you want, you may want to step your game up.
But if you’re feeling exhausted, sore, sick or hurt you should probably tone it down.
“My advice is twofold: You have to like it (so that you actually do it), and you have to consider if it will help you reach your goal. It’s that simple,” Dayoub Forrest said.
“When you team an actionable goal with a deeply personal desire you create the best motivation for staying true to a sustainable and enduring wellness plan.”
But at the end of the day, the most important thing is that we squeeze some kind of movement into our busy lives, to live longer, healthier and happier.
“Any chance you have to move your body is amazing for both physical and mental benefits!” Erwin declared.
