Where do you stand? (or step 2.)

In the previous post I talked about there being two important things to start with. Here's the second one:

2. How close to your goal are you?

Your current training level has a huge impact on what the first weeks of your program will look like. It influences how you train: which activity, which intensity, which dose? If you are a beginner (NO other physical activity than needed for work and daily living) you will have to take into account that you have to start at a much lower intensity than you might think. This has at least two reasons: 1. it helps you wanting more and 2. it eases your body into the notion of training so you wont hurt yourself. 

I haven't done any running in a very long while. I basically stopped a few months after I started skating. The snow was disappearing so why spend time running if you can skate!? Well, this time I will do both! But since I have no clue on my level now, I will have to test that in the gym tomorrow. 

Important things to remember:

• To be out of breath and to be in some pain (burning sensation in your muscles) is not dangerous. 
• Listen to your body, your joints should not be in any pain. 
• If it's hard to stay motivated, the intensity of your training is too high! (to keep going is MUCH more important than anything else)
• Keep some sort of record where you can check your progress.
• You get good at what you train, but...
• Variation will let you book progress. 
• To gain health effect you need at least 3 times a week 30 minutes of heart rate heightening activity (for the kind of fitness we're going for you need more than that).

Next post will probably be on choosing intensity based on goal and current level and tools to find that level while training.