“By Failing To Plan, You Are Planning To Fail”
We all have fitness goals in mind that we set for ourselves. For example, some people want overall, stronger abs, while some just want a visible six pack and increased stability. It is a common misconception that the two are the same. However, that is not the truth. Maximal strength and muscle endurance, while under the same umbrella of “strength training” and Maximal Strength, being the progression from strength endurance - they require different types of training.
No matter what your goal is, whether you are weeks, months, years into your fitness/weight loss journey, or even just a few minutes, you need a plan. Without a plan, often times, people can get confused, easily distracted, and find it harder to stay on track and organized. Some people further along in their fitness journey, can also experience plateaus in their training, where they stop seeing consistent results. This is when some people lose motivation. Time to stop and plan.
The first step to planning your action path is to decide on your GOAL. For example, If your goal is to increase strength endurance and stabilization, which is helpful for progressing core workouts (I usually do more strength endurance when I am focused on shaping and toning) here is what I suggest:
If your goal is to increase your maximal core strength, here’s what I suggest to keep in mind:
While both of these methods increase strength, both are not appropriate for everyone, depending on the goal and other factors, such as prior injuries and overall physical abilities. Two phenomenal pieces of ab equipment to make things less complicated and to allow yourself to use these layouts without the mental questions of what to do are the Ab Coaster or the Vertical Crunch. These two machines are perfect for any kind of abdominal progression and can be used in any type of training, especially, with their ability to add and take off weights. You can easily combine the two for a killer superset, and even add in some floor work in between sets, such as plank holds or mountain climbers.
Laying out a plan and a roadmap to hit your fitness goals is one of the most important things to do to increase success and to ease your mind when you get stuck in a rut. Figure out what works for you. The best plan, the best workout and the best diet, is the one that works best for YOU!
You are more likely to succeed if you are planning ahead and doing what you know will keep you motivated and organized.