The other day, I went on YouTube to find a workout to do for that day. Every once in a while, I'll do this to mix things up and possibly learn some fun, new exercises.

After entering "Full Body At-Home Workout" into the search bar, wow oh wow, the number of choices was endless. You could spend hours, not necessarily working out, but just figuring out which video would be best for you.

Now, thankfully, I have an extensive background in exercise physiology and exercise program design, so I'm usually pretty good about scanning the videos and figuring out which ones are best, but what if you don't have this background? How do you find the best workout plan for you?

That's actually a question I've received a lot from family and friends...

"Isabel, I really want to start exercising regularly... what is the best plan for me?"

Here is a quick run-through of questions I used just last week to help a good friend decide on the best workout plan for her:

1. Where do you plan on exercising? Be realistic about this answer (well, be realistic about every answer). Sometimes we set ourselves up with unrealistic expectations — like we're going to drive to the gym 4 days a week and spend an hour there. Well, after you add in the travel time, that could be anywhere from 1.5-2 hours of your day. If you have the time to do that and you love the gym, then of course that would be a great choice. But if that's not realistic for you right now, exercising at home is a wonderful option.
2. How much time can you give to your workout? Do a thorough scan of your day. How much time can you peacefully give to doing a workout? I say peacefully because there have been times in my life when I would plan an hour workout, but that hour was totally anxiety-ridden because I knew I had so many other things I needed to do on that day and dedicating a full hour to the workout was more stressful than it was helpful. Looking back, I could have accomplished the same fitness goals with a 20- or 30-minute workout that was free of stress.
3. What is your starting point right now? Are you currently coming off months of being sedentary? Or have you been consistently committed to an exercise routine for years? Those two scenarios require very different starting opints, and there is no shame in beginner status. Last year, I took a break from my usual exercise routine to spend time healing some pretty difficult health challenges I was facing. When I did go back to a routine, I spent a few weeks doing the beginnger workouts I would use with my clients when I was still personal training. I knew my body needed an effective reintroduction phase, and starting where I left off would have just put my body at risk of injury.

Those workouts I used are the same workouts I have included in my BodyFIT Foundations program. The program is designed to give you an exercise plan that will create the "foundation" for a strong and toned body, without putting you at risk for injury.

If you've been away from exercising for some time and want to get back to it in a safe and gently way, while still seeing results in your body, this program is perfect for you.

Take a look at everything you receive today inside the BodyFIT Foundations program -> Click Here

Whether you decide to start the BodyFIT Foundations program, or you choose a different program that is right for you at this time, remember to quickly go through the questions above to choose the program that is the best fit for you.

The post What Exercise Is Best for You? appeared first on New Life Promise.

I've always hated shows like The Biggest Loser. It's not that I don't appreciate the fact that the show's contestants have made a great decision to take care of their health. It's the horrifying weight loss tactics and extreme exercising that makes this nutritionist absolutely cringe.

I know, I know... it's just TV, and reality TV is not really "reality." But unfortunately, many people watch these shows, see the participants lose weight, and think this is a healthy solution to their weight loss struggles. Nothing could be further from the truth.

And it's not even the nutrition part that is all that bad. That part of the show is actually borderline "OK" (borderline). It's the over-the-top exercise requirements that make me want to yell at the TV, "Stop, please just stop."

Many of these contestants have been sedentary for quite some time. Yes, they definitely need to be active to reach their health goals, but just like I wouldn't expect you to be ready to run a marathon after walking your first mile, I hate seeing these people exercising at such intense levels after years of an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.

You may not know this about me, but before I decided to become a full-time nutritionist, I was also a personal trainer for 15 years. I was always more passionate about the nutrition part of my clients' health journeys, but I was good at teaching the exercise part as well, and my undergraduate degree is in Exercise Science.

My first job as a trainer was at the Equinox health club in New York City. This place was pretty "fancy pants," but I really learned so much there about the best way to approach losing weight without resorting to extreme, unhealthy measures. My clients were often shocked at how quickly they would see results even though our workouts were enjoyable. They thought the whole process had to be grueling and painful, but I would teach them how that approach was often counterproductive.

I had more of a "let's love our bodies into health" rather than a "no pain, no gain" approach. Funny... I was not yet a Christian then, but somehow I knew that treating our bodies with love and kindness (like our Heavenly Father would want) was always the best approach.

The other thing that often shocked my clients was how nagging injuries and prior aches and pains would quickly get better after just a few weeks of our workouts. That's because I approached their exercise programming from a more functional perspective and took into consideration the movements of real, everyday life.

And now I want to share this way of approaching exercise with all of you! I have put together an incredible program that is the perfect fit for anyone who wants to get into great shape in an enjoyable, easy-to-follow way... without any of the extreme dangerous tactics!

My BodyFIT Foundations exercise program will give you everything you need to lose weight, strengthen your body, and feel energetic in a way that is restorative and nourishing to your body.

Sure, you'll be challenged. Sure, you're feel sore after your workouts, but it will be just the right amount of challenge and soreness so you can recover well and continue to exercise in a realistic and enjoyable way.

I designed this program to be exactly what I would do with a client when they first came to me. We would cover all the "foundational" principles of a great workout program so that, not only would they see results in their weight loss and body toning, they would also be protecting their body from injury and pain.

BodyFIT Foundations is a perfect fit for you if you...

• Have been away from the routine of exercise and want to jump back in to working out in a safe and effective way.
• Have been sedentary for quite some time and need a realistic way to start exercising.
• Enjoy structure and routine and the ease of someone telling you exactly what to do each day.
• Don't have hours to dedicate to working out and need something simple you can do at home in 20 minutes.
• Want to take care of your body in a loving way, as the Lord would.

Here's exactly what you'll get inside my BodyFIT Foundations program...

1. Six Follow-Along Exercise Videos: You and I will be working out together in the comfort of our homes, and I will be guiding your every move. Each video is 20 minutes or less, so you don't need hours in your day to complete the workout. I have also chosen specific scripture verses to focus on during each workout and a special prayer to get our workout started focusing on the Lord and what He has planned for us.
2. An Easy-to-Follow Exercise Guide: Most exercise plans are unnecessarily and overwhelmingly complicated, leading people to quit before they even get going. Not BodyFIT Foundations! I'm giving you an easy-to-follow exercise guide to get you started on the right foot, covering everything you need to know.
3. Monthly Workout Calendar: This simple and straightforward 4-week calendar shows you exactly which workouts to perform on which days, when to incorporate foam rolling, and which days to include a gentle walk or take off for rest. You can repeat this 4-week cycle as many times as you desire for continued strength building. Easy peasy!
4. God-Focused Workout Cards: These cards break down everything you need to know for each workout and include a specific focus and bible verses to help you deepen your faith while you strengthen your body to meet all your most important goals. You'll also get cards to break down your warm-up, foam rolling, and stretches!

If you've been wondering how to best approach an exercise program, or have had a hard time getting started, this program may be just the answer to your workout struggles.

Join me in not only nourishing our bodies in a way that is glorifying to God, but also move and exercise our bodies in a loving way.

Get started on your BodyFIT Foundations program today -> Click HERE for full access

The post Do NOT Exercise Like This appeared first on New Life Promise.