- image from http://www.lottieshealthnwellness.com/exerciseandfitness.html
Like many people who keep New Year’s resolutions, I am working toward exercising more and taking charge of my health. In honor of my fresh start, I dusted off my gym membership card, put on my exercise gear and headed out as the sun rose to “get physical.” After exercising, I felt energized and ready for the day. I forgot how good it feels to exercise.
Here are some of the benefits of regular exercise:
- Helps you manage your weight & builds/maintains healthy bones, joints and muscles
- Improves your mood
- Increases your energy & can put back the spark in your sex life
- Combats chronic diseases & reduces the risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers
- Reduces stress, depression and anxiety
- Promotes better sleep
- Increases the good cholesterol (HDL) while decreasing bad cholesterol (LDL)
(references: MayoClinic.com; Georgia State University, Department of Kinesiology and Health)
Tips for beginning an exercise routine or getting back into working out again:
- Start slow! If you haven’t run in a few months, don’t try to run 5 miles at the fastest pace on a treadmill Day 1. Work up to your fitness goals so that you don’t overkill your body or put it in shock. You don’t want to injure yourself.
- Stretch! When I’m in a time crunch, I only stretch after I exercise, but many fitness experts recommend stretching before AND after exercising to better prepare your body for activity. It also helps make muscles leaner.
- Take it easy with the weights. If strength training or weight lifting is going to be part of your exercise regime, don’t start lifting 50lbs right away. When working with weights or weight machines, safety is key. It is easy to get hurt if you underestimate your limits or don’t know how to properly use a machine.
- Get a personal trainer. This can be an expensive tip but if you can afford it, try it out. Personal trainers can not only teach you how to do certain exercises and how to correctly operate machines but they can cater the exercises for your body and fitness goals. (You can get one for free at the YMCA)
- Bring variety and FUN into fitness! Work out with your iPod, make an exercise playlist to keep you energized or bring a friend with you every now and then. Walking on a treadmill every time you exercise gets really boring very quickly. Work out outside of the gym once in a while. Go swimming, hiking, dancing (at a party or take a beginners dance class), play basketball, run around with your kids or young family members. I’ve learned that if you’re not having fun with it, the motivation will fade faster than you can say quadriceps.
- Spoil yourself! If you reach one of your goals, reward yourself. Do something you love but have been putting off for whatever reason, buy something for yourself, get a massage, treat yourself to a day of relaxation, come up with little (or big) ways to keep yourself motivated and excited about your goals.
Rox
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
i just got a wii and that has helped a lot. i also love exercising on my yoga ball even though i am not into yoga itself.
i use exercise dvds as gyms aren’t in my budget right now. it spares me embarrassment if i mess up a move, there’s no one to see it but me (and the cat). thanks for the post!
Oo yeah I tried the Wii for the first time this week. Talk about a workout! I was sooo sore the next day! Definitely have to get one of those.
I have started using Comcast’s fitness on demand. It’s perfect if you need variety and/or change frequently in your workout – and it also let’s you target an area.
I also have a big yoga ball, 8 lb bar and 2 10 lb barbells laying around in my tv room. Might not be ‘neat’ but the easy access is a reminder to get off my couch during commercials. plus my Wii helps.
Love the photo by the way. I want to be like her