"Does It Work?" Part 2: Exercise Programs

I get this nearly every day. Does CrossFit, P90X, Insanity, Zumba, Pilates, circuit training, hula hooping…or a myriad other programs or gadgets work? Sure, they all “work,” in that they create a stimulus to which your body must adapt that can create change, but as we discussed last time, you need to be clear on your specific goals in order to know if they will work for you.

In other words, each works better than others towards certain goals and poorly if at all towards others.  

For example, it’s easy to see that the person for whom CrossFit or bootcamp-style boxing classes “work” is unlikely to say the same of Pilates or Yoga, and vice versa. This is simply because the goals are different. Don’t blindly follow the same program that “worked” for a coworker or friend, think of yourself and your specific goals.

Which leads me to the second, and possibly most important point in assessing whether an exercise program works: Do you like this kind of workout? Will you do it with consistency and intensity? I am contacted often by people who hate lifting weights asking if P90X works, or people who abhor treadmills and ellipticals asking if the TreadClimber works. If you find yourself saying, “I hate this workout, but I’ll do it because someone told me it works,” or worse, “I’ll do it because it worked for that person on the box,” I’ll bet it’s not going to work for you. This has nothing to do with the efficacy of the workout itself, it’s simply because you won’t be committed. That’s not to say that well-rounded fitness and maximum results don’t sometimes require doing some workouts that aren’t totally enjoyable, but building an entire fitness program around an activity you actively dislike isn’t a strategy for long-term success.

And, most importantly, don’t forget that if weight loss is your goal, no workout program is going to “work” without a revamp of your diet. Next time, we’ll cover the basics on figuring out which diets work.

Heather Hawkins is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition coach based in San Francisco, CA, who works with clients over the internet through FitLifeSF Coaching and blogs at FitLifeSF.com. Please send your fitness and nutrition questions to Smurf@FitLifeSF.com for use in future blogs.