The question of how quickly you can improve your fitness is not an easy one to answer. Because it depends on many different factors! And some people can see results faster than others.
However, the good news is that if you stick to a consistent training program over a four week period, you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish!
Starting from scratch: what you need to know
If you’re starting from scratch, that is, if you don’t really consider yourself in shape at all, then it’s important to know that you won’t be able to run a marathon after just four weeks. However, it might be possible to run a 5K in four weeks, if you are careful and not completely unable to start.
Even if you have a basic fitness level, one important thing to remember is that your body needs to adapt to whatever type of exercise you are doing. Even if you don’t get out of breath when you run, for example, you may find that if you run too much, you will sustain a leg injury that will set you back weeks while you recover.
This is why, as frustrating as it may be, you need to gradually improve your fitness over a period of four weeks and beyond.
What you CAN achieve in a short space of time
What you definitely CAN achieve after just a few weeks of following a fitness program is a very solid foundation for continued fitness. As long as you exercise consistently (for example, 4 days a week, every week), this will create a habit that will serve you very well in the future.
You will also be amazed at how quickly things get easier. For example, you can start running for just one minute at a time and walk a couple of minutes between each run. However, after a few weeks, you will probably be able to run for 15 minutes or more. Now THAT is amazing progress.
The key here is not to compare yourself to people who have already been exercising for a long time. Instead, compare yourself to where you came from. If you can climb a long flight of steps without stopping to catch your breath when just a few weeks ago you could barely climb the first few steps, that is a huge progress that will improve your everyday life!
