Habits of Fit Surfers - Habit #1

It's the start of the new year and that means new years fitness resolutions are in full swing.

 

So how come most people start with good intentions but normally fall off the wagon after only a few weeks or months?

 

It's generally because they try and change too much at once and then it all becomes to hard to maintain.

 

If this is you, then try the follow approach instead as it will set you up for long term success...

 

 

Fitness Success Strategy - Change just one thing in your fitness routine until it becomes a habit and then move onto the next thing. That way you are making things more attainable and only progressing once it becomes a normal part of your routine.

 

For some people it might only take a few days to become a habit, for others it might take a few weeks. Either way, stick it out and build those habits!

 

 

So having said that, I will be sending out some emails over the coming weeks outlining the habits you should be building in order to become a fit surfer. Your job is to choose one habit at a time and focus on making it part of your routine. That way over the course of a year you should have build some great habits and significantly improve your fitness for surfing.

 

So let's get started with the first habit...

 

 

Habits of Fit Surfers - Habit #1

 

Fit surfers do functional strength training workouts 2-3 times per week. 

 

 

Doing 2 full body workouts per week is the minimum you should be doing to get noticeable progress in strength and muscular endurance. 3 workouts per week would be even better. You can even do four, however I would advise breaking it down into an upper body / lower body split so your muscles still get adequate recovery time.

 

With regards to exercise selection you should be doing as many multi-joint, functional exercises as possible using your bodyweight, dumbbells, a swiss ball and for further challenges you can use extra equipment like bands, a suspension trainer, medicine balls, kettlebells, etc.

 

Try and stay clear of machine based exercises that limit you to a specific range of motion unless you are doing specific rehabilitation exercises, as you will get better results from free weights which will help improve your movements patterns in addition to helping improve strength.

 

 

Are you doing 2-3 strength training workouts each week?

 

If so, great work, keep it up.

 

If not, start by planning and completing 2 workouts in the next week, then progress from there.

 

All it takes is to build a few habits now and then several months down the track, you will be fitter, stronger and surfing better.

 

Stay tuned to your inbox for Habit #2 :)