How long should a physical fitness program last?
Physical fitness is an essential component of living a healthy lifestyle. "How long should a physical fitness program last?" is a common question among people starting a fitness program. The answer is different for everyone and will depend on the overall goal and direction for each individual. However, in this blog post we will go over the factors that influence the length of a fitness program, the importance of setting short-term and long-term goals, and the importance of regular reassessment and adaptation to maintain progress.
The correct length of a fitness program
The duration of a fitness program is determined by the individual's fitness goals. A person training for a marathon, for example, may have a fitness program that lasts several months ramping up to the race, whereas someone looking to maintain their current fitness level may have a program that lasts indefinitely. Just the same, someone looking to hop on stage for a bodybuilding competition may use multiple long phases over the next 3 years to achieve desired outcomes. Someone in the CrossFit world may follow the typical in-season and offseason model around the CrossFit open and The Games. Realistically, the length of the program depends on the specific goal for the fitness program and we know that this is different for everyone. Typically for newbies, we would recommend a 6-12 week front end program to start and then increasing length of term after that.
Set short- and long-term goals and adjust the program as needed.
Setting both short-term and long-term goals is essential for ensuring that a fitness program is effective and meets individual goals. Short-term goals motivate you at the start, are usually attainable in a short period of time, where long-term goals provide direction and focus for the fitness program and are harder to reach out and grab. The 6 Week challenge is a beautiful program to jump into for a front end program, as anyone from new to experienced can see 10-15lbs lost in the first 6 weeks. This short term goal can make it much easier to maintain forward progression on the overall, macro goal of “being healthy”. It is recommended to join a program that is well-rounded and achievable by setting both types of goals.
It is also critical to modify the fitness program as short-term and long-term goals are met. For example, if a person's short-term goal is to lose 10 pounds in a month and they achieve it, they may need to adjust their fitness program to maintain progress or work toward a completely new goal.
Regular reassessment and adaptation are essential for progress.
Maintaining progress in a fitness program requires regular reassessment and adaptation. Individuals can determine if they are on track to meet their goals by assessing their progress and adjusting their fitness program accordingly. For example, if a person's goal is to improve their running speed and they haven't seen any progress after a few weeks, they may need to change their training plan to focus on different muscle groups, increase volume of fast twitch work or even increase the intensity of what they are currently doing. Individuals can avoid plateaus and maintain progress toward their goals by regularly reassessing this progress and adapting the fitness program.
All in all, there are a few factors that contribute to the length of a program for someone. Through the process of setting short-term and long-term goals and adjusting the fitness program accordingly, a person can find a comfortable place for the length of the program. Maintaining progress in a fitness program requires regular reassessment and adaptation of the plan with the short- and long-term goals in mind. Professionals should create well-rounded fitness programs that meet their clients’ individual fitness goals while also improving overall health and well-being by incorporating the terrific three from above.