Recent studies have shown that when people are given specific strategies to improve their activity levels, their motivation is higher than people that are starting out on their own without useful information to change their behaviors about exercise. The following strategies are simple, yet action-oriented to get you started on implementing a fitness program into your life.
Taking up a sport can be a great help to a personal fitness routine. A sport that requires some cardiovascular exertion and muscle strength will provide the benefits of exercise that every fitness program should include. A sport that you enjoy can be easier to participate in and stick with than simply working out for the sake of working out.
Try to be creative when thinking up a fitness plan. There are plenty of activities that will provide much-needed exercise without the need to step into a gym. Picking a workout regimen that you actually enjoy will continue to give you the motivation you need.
As you grow older, it is imperative to exercise the brain, as well as your body, to keep both fit. Playing word games and memory exercises will improve the mind and stave off dementia or other memory illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease. For example, while walking, take notice of five blue objects and when you have returned home, try to recall them.
Schedule your time to workout the same way you schedule your important appointments. Your health and fitness are just as important to your life as your next doctor’s appointment, so treat it the same way. Setting your workouts in your calendar will make you more likely to take the time and do them.
Strength training is an important part of fitness. Participate in strength training whenever it’s possible. This training type positively affects general health and well being. It increases bone, ligament and muscle strength, while at the same time it increases the metabolism rate and positively modifies cardiac function. Include a professional trainer in designing your strength training.
If you are starting a new physical fitness program, the route to success is not to go about it too aggressively. Generally, you are trying to make this a habit, not a regime. Approach a workout or a walk around the block as if it were second nature, like doing the laundry. Just relax and do not be hard on yourself, especially in the beginning.
Keep a nice upbeat pace when cycling. Try to keep your pace between 80 and 110 rpm. This will help you ride longer without becoming too tired since you are not going too fast. You can keep track of this number while riding by counting how many times one of your feet’s pedal hits the top in 10 seconds. Then take that number and multiply it by 6 to get your pedal rpms.
Do not be deterred by the rain if you’re walking or jogging to get some exercise. Unless we’re talking about some serious torrential downpours out there, a little drizzle never hurt anyone. In fact, as it’s falling, the rain will clean the air and allow you to take in more pure oxygen and thus increase your fat-burning efforts.
Don’t attempt to maximize your overall weight limit by adding a whole bunch of weights at once, without testing it. Try adding about 20 to 30% more than what you usually lift and then test, to see if you can handle that first. Start by lifting it off the rack and then holding it for a couple seconds and then placing it back onto the rack. After about 3 or 4 minutes, try your max and it should feel lighter than before. Never attempt this without a spotter, though.
Volunteer work is a great way to stay fit. Communities are always in need of people who can help with various physical activities that they will appreciate your help doing. Volunteering will provide a much-needed service to someone else, but you’ll be exercising as well.
Playing baseball is a great fitness activity. If you are playing on a sunny day, you can actually use your glove to block the sun from your eyes when you need to catch a pop fly. This will protect your eyes, and allow you to see what you are doing to avoid injury
In a fitness program centered around running, the exercise schedule should include long-term allowances for recovery and rest. One week out of every six needs to be a light week with sharply reduced goals for speed and distance. A good rule of thumb is to work out only half as hard during this rest week.
One of the things that prevent us from having a physically fit body, are our excuses. Most people tend to say that they are too busy to find time to exercise. A good way to eliminate this, is to schedule a time to work out and then stick to it until it becomes a habit.
Eat more when you are working out. When a body works out it burns more calories because the shifting muscles need energy to stretch. They stretch by utilizing your body’s fat and sugar stores as energy. If you simply work out and forget to eat it can be negative to your gains, resulting in malnutrition and atrophy of the muscles.
Try green smoothies to help you reach your fitness goals. Green smoothies taste great, and are very good for your body. Try different green vegetables with fruits, like apples and pears. The more fruit you add, the sweeter the taste. Try broccoli or spinach in small amounts until you know what tastes right to you.
Remember to start by setting achievable fitness goals. A common mistake many people make is to shoot for the stars too quickly. Don’t try to run two miles before running one. Don’t try an hour on the treadmill before you do a half hour. Start slowly and work your way up.
Staying on your fitness program is the single-most important gift you can give yourself and family. By significantly increasing your activity levels, the pay-off will be that you will feel better, look better, and the exercise will increase your energy level. Give yourself the gift of health by implementing a fitness and exercise plan into your life.