What is the best workout or workout program?
In short, the best workout or program is the one that YOU will DO.
I tell people this often, but I have had to relearn this lesson for myself every once in a while. Since I began my own fitness journey in college, I have tried many different types of exercise, but mostly workouts that would be beneficial for bike racing. Over the years I have done different types of cross training including some running, cross-country skiing, weight lifting and functional strength training, yoga classes, rock climbing and, of course, A LOT of time on my bike. Each year my goals are slightly different, my focus changes a bit, and my cross training changes. Where one winter I may be a regular yogi, the next winter I may be obsessed with rock climbing.
Besides yoga I’m not a big class goer, but one time I tried a Turbo Jam class with some colleagues. Turbo Jam is a mix of cardio, dance, sculpting, and kickboxing and is far from anything I would normally do on my own terms. I have very little coordination when it comes to dancing, and combined with the fast pace of the class and difficulty in hearing the directions, I had a very hard time following along. Regardless, I tried to make the most of it. I’m glad we went, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.
The lesson here is that it’s OKAY not to like a certain genre of exercise or a specific trainer’s style. In order to be successful in meeting your goals, you have to find a program(s), class(es) or trainer that you enjoy. If you don’t like the program, you may get short-term results, but you are less likely to stick to it for the long-run. Not everyone will like working out at a gym, or boot camp-style workouts, Zumba, or running. So keep trying new things until you find a few workout styles that you like, and stick to them!