With a new year quickly approaching many people are deciding on what their resolution will be. The most popular resolution every year is to start working out and lose weight, while some people are successful in this feat many quit after a few weeks. One of the reasons that so many people fail at this may be due to a lack of a structured plan. Merely knowing what you would like to achieve is not enough, it helps if you design a detailed plan that will help you see the goal and know how to achieve it successfully.

To build a successful workout schedule you need to be specific about what your goals are. Being as specific as possible will help you see better results as your plan unfolds. Setting a specific goal, such as losing two dress sizes by spring, will help you see a destination and the steps that are required to achieve it. This will also provide you with something to measure against and will help you stay motivated throughout the following months.

Take advantage of a professional assessment. Many gyms are now offering an assessment that will give you an idea of your present physical fitness level. This will also help you recognize areas where you may be weaker and where you need to improve. If you gym doesn’t offer an assessment as part of their membership, you can always measure your levels on your own. Take measurements, see how many laps you can run and count how many pull ups you can do when you begin. As you continue to work out you can measure yourself again and see where you have improved and where you still need work. This is a great tool to keep you motivated and help you stay on track. Seeing how you are progressing is an excellent tool to use to keep you returning to the gym.

Pace yourself. Don’t try to run twenty miles on your first day, if you are like many of us that would be impossible. Design a plan that will allow you to grow as your strength levels do. Start off slow and work your way up, this may seem a bit boring at first, but what you’re doing is building your endurance levels. When you feel that you can handle a bit more add more exercises to your workout plan.

Keep a workout journal along with your workout plan. This can be used to keep track of your starting weight, fitness levels and types of exercises you’re doing. By keeping track of your progress you can see how you’re improving and see where you may need to make adjustments.

Creating a workout plan is essential to you succeeding in your weight loss and fitness goals. If you see it written down it is harder to avoid. A well-designed workout plan includes the types of exercises you will be doing on certain days and the repetitions of each. A workout plan should be treated as a tool to help you succeed in achieving your goals not as a nuisance.