Fitness and workout challenges are literally everywhere these days - you can find them going down on social media, in your local gym or studio and you can even participate in them alone, completely from home.
They boast a ton of benefits, from motivation and accountability, to the more obvious benefit of engaging in some good old fashioned physical activity. So is a fitness challenge right for you? Let’s find out!
Benefits of a workout challenge
There really are a slew of benefits that can be achieved from participating in a workout challenge. Since most of these fitness challenges are, by default, a set amount of time, they can be great to use as a stepping stone when moving towards a more active lifestyle.
They usually only take up a small amount of time each day, and typically only last for a total of 4-6 weeks, so fitness challenges provide the structure necessary to start working out regularly, without the pressure to continue something indefinitely.
There is also the accountability factor when completing a workout challenge. Whether it’s with other people in an online community or you’ve recruited some friends and family members to participate with you, it’s always easier to accomplish things when other people are counting on you.
Many of these challenges have built-in motivation from other people completing the challenge along with you, so it makes sense to check out the relevant social media hashtags so you can really reap all of the benefits of the online community.
How do I spice up my workout routine?
A workout challenge can also be a great way to get started with a new type of exercise or fitness regimen that you’ve never done before in order to see if you like it. Most gyms and boutique studios offer various short-term packages with this in mind.
By trying something out for 30 days or 6 weeks, you can get a taste for something new: yoga, pilates, spinning, boxing, HIIT, etc! It’s a great way to infuse a little life into your existing exercise routine and spice things up.
Finally, a workout challenge can not only help you achieve your health and fitness goals, but also acknowledge other benefits you might not have been expecting.
Sure, you might lose weight or see some body composition changes - but you’ll also probably start feeling a lot more confident, strong, and proud of yourself for having committed to- and stuck with- finishing a fitness challenge.
Challenges can help you stay motivated, inspired, engaged and, perhaps most importantly, make you feel like these healthy habits are something you can continue for the long haul.
How to choose a workout challenge
There are a few things you’ll want to take into account when choosing the right fitness challenge for you. For starters, make sure you choose a well-rounded fitness routine to get started. By that I mean avoid at all costs the squat challenge and anything like it that promotes one single exercise or muscle group.
Working out a single muscle group is going to wear it down, not make it stronger, and neglecting the rest of your body isn’t going to bring about the sort of body transformation changes you’re looking for.
Whether you’ve chosen a weight loss challenge (that includes both dietary changes as well as exercise), a challenge that helps you build up to running a 5k or a strength training challenge at your local gym, make sure you’ve done the research that it is a well-rounded, full-body challenge.
Next, you’ll want to decide what sort of fitness format works best for you. Online-only challenges are great, since many of them are free or low-cost to join, but you’ll need to have the motivation to get the workouts done all on your own.
If that might not be enough for you, an in-studio or gym based workout challenge might be a better option. You’ll schedule in-person classes and have a trainer who will know if you don’t show up - which will help keep you accountable.
Have more fun!
Lastly, you will definitely want to choose a challenge that you think you’ll enjoy. Even if you’ve never participated in the exact type of exercise before, you probably have a good idea whether you’ll like it or not.
Can’t sit still? Yoga might not be a great choice. Don’t like sweating excessively? HIIT is probably not your best bet. Take into account your personality and fitness preferences when signing up for a workout challenge.
Participating in a workout challenge is a great way to ramp up your physical activity! If you’re new to exercise, getting back to it after a break, or just in the market to spice up your existing routine, a fitness challenge might be a good choice for you.
Keep in mind that healthy habits take time, however, and while a 4-6 week challenge is a great place to start, making lasting changes may take a little longer.