How To Be Your Own Personal Trainer

Deciding to get active is one of the greatest decisions you can make in life. But sometimes, going to the gym can be overwhelming. Where do you even start? Joining a fitness class or shelling out some extra moula for a personal trainer are always good options but sometimes, you don't want to deal with anyone else. Sometimes, you want to do it on your own. If this sounds like you, have a look at this advice from celebrity trainer, Harley Pasternak, and you will be tearing it up in no time!

Step One: Be Realistic

Strategize based on what is happening in your life at the moment. "The plan has to take into account the rest of your week, your current injury/health status, your goals, and your fitness level," Harley says. These things will help keep you sane during a busy week and safe from injury. General guidelines recommend working out for 60 minutes, 5 days a week for weight loss.

Step Two: Map It Out

Once you have decided how frequently you'll workout, it is time to create the workout. Harley says that these three components make up a perfect workout:

1. A cardio or active warm up, like jumping jacks and/or jogging.
2. The main workout. It should include two major muscle groups and one midsection muscle group, "creating a nonstop circuit workout between those movements." Repeat the circuit multiple times.
3. A cardio cool down. It can be the same as the warm up.

"I consider a workout resistance program sandwiched between a cardio warmup and cardio cool down," Harley says.

Step Three: Create Your Workout

Pick one move from each of the categories below to make a three move, 25-minute circuit. Do 5 minutes of cardio before and after repeating the circuit 4 times.

• no equipment upper body moves -- like push ups
• lower body moves for legs and butt -- like lunges or squats
• ab moves that are not crunches -- try these moves

If you aren't limited by time, you can add 30 minutes on an elliptical or treadmill before the circuit or you can just add some more moves. Don't feel constrained or limited. Feel free to play with any number of combinations and workout lengths until you find what is going to work best for you. That's the key anyway, finding what works for you and sticking with it! Are you your own personal trainer? How do you build your workout? Source: PopSugar