If you have ever been one to make that New Year’s resolution to lose weight and head right over to your local gym on January 2nd (or really any time of the year), you may know about the steps a good gym puts into place to customize your workout to achieve maximum results. Now there is an improvement on this customization called Functional Fitness to tailor make a fitness program specifically designed to help you incorporate it into your life, whether it is at the gym or a Saturday at home.
A while back I had joined Bally’s Total Fitness and a personal trainer went over my fitness and weight loss goals with me and designed a plan that I would follow each time I came in to work out; 2 miles around the track, 12 shoulder press repetitions, 12 leg curl repetitions and so on. While the program helped me focus on what I needed to do at each workout once I walked through the door, it certainly was difficult to apply on the days I was not in the gym. This is where Functional Fitness steps in and has made the individualized fitness program even better.
Functional Fitness is more versatile than your typical workout and its one that helps you get creative in your everyday life so that your fitness program is not stagnant when you are not in the gym. If you eventually end that gym membership, it is also one that you will have learned how everyday activities can be used for strength, endurance, coordination, cardio and balance. Functional Fitness takes into account your lifestyle and the activities you are involved in daily. So if you are active with your children, your trainer will give you ideas on how to incorporate activities with them that may relate to cardio or if you are a frequent business traveler, they will give you ideas on things you can do for strength training while on the road. It also considers any injuries you may be prone to and concentrates on strengthening your weak areas first to avoid any injury in the future.
Functional Fitness is said to be the biggest trend in fitness this year, and why not? If it helps ensure success of transition from your workout at the gym to your everyday life, you will be much more likely to stay on track and maintain your fitness goals.
