There are numerous methods we can use to monitor our fitness and these are crucial for a number of reasons.
For most people the greatest benefit they will get from monitoring their fitness will be the boost they will generate from seeing progress from their endeavors.
There is nothing more inspiring for somebody attempting to slim down than to get on the scales and discover that they have shed several pounds since the last time they were weighed, or for bodybuilders to measure their muscles and to discover that they have gained an inch or two here or there.
This measured progress can increase energy levels more than a bucket full of vitamins.
The mind is a powerful tool in fitness training and by feeding in positive information that can actually be measured and assessed, it will ensure continued enthusiasm for keeping up a fitness regime.
One matter that everybody ought be aware of however is to leave ample time between appraising progress. This will guarantee that the body has actually had time to make some progress.
It is not a good policy to weight yourself daily, because there will be fluctuations where you could appear to gain/lose weight slightly from one day to the next.
It is also not good to measure your muscles every day either because they take time to grow and big gains will not be seen overnight. This can be demoralizing if you are constantly looking for measures of progress and feel that you are not getting them soon enough.
Occasionally measurements can be deceiving, as with resistance training and weight loss. While we are burning fatty tissue with a resistance training program we will also be building muscle, therefore although the weight might not be changing when we stand on the scales, the fat to muscle ratio may have changed quite substantially and our body may be leaner, however still weigh the same.
This is where taking photographs of our body once a month will show a better picture of advancement and offer an alternative measure of our success.
Depending on what programme you are following it is sensible to take your fat measurements every couple of weeks. There are many methods of measuring your body fat although some are quite expensive. Many people consider that underwater weighing is the most accurate, but no method is 100% precise --- they all have some margin of error. It's not important to know the exact number, what's important is to use the same method each time you take your measurements so you can have a consistent record of your progress.
You could use a skin fold caliper. They are quite inexpensive and are simple to use. This will help you to know exactly how your body is responding to your diet and training routine. There are software programmes available that will help you to analyze your results as to whether you are losing fat/gaining muscle or not. Find this software on the internet by using Google.
You will continue to go in circles if you don’t develop the habit of accurately monitoring your progress. This may seem like a chore, but nothing worth having is ever easy.
There are more fitness and health articles by Robert Maddison at http://www.fitnessandhealthpages.com
Source: www.isnare.com
