Most, if not all physicians agree that exercise is a vital part of a person’s well being. Exercising is just as important as eating or sleeping. Many, however, have neglected to integrate this crucial activity to their daily lifestyles. Once started. here are some tips to keep you going and sustain the habit.
Consult a fitness expert on how to start. Many times, the first step is always the hardest. In this case, it is one of the easiest. A fitness professional will guide you with a plan that includes exercise regimen and diet – depending on your goals. The trainer can also guide you as you perform your first exercise moves. Doing the wrong program may lead to different or unsatisfactory results leading to discouragement and the lack of will to continue exercising. In some cases, you might need the advise of a physician to identify the limits of your workout.
Exercise on a frequency you can commit to. After deciding to start exercising, some tend to overdo it. Those who commit to exercise more frequently that they actually can accomplish tend to have difficulty sustaining the habit. Upon starting, try to schedule reasonably – like twice to thrice a week first. As you progress, try to make more time for exercise usually by removing unproductive or unhealthy activities. After realizing how much you are enjoying the habit, increase the frequency as you see fit.
Take it easy on the intensity. When starting, the key is to get the habit going, not torture or punish your body. Running more than 4 kilometers or lifting 30 kilograms on your first day may strain your muscles. The strain may produce persistent discomfort that may last for a while and may be the factor that breaks the habit you wish to start. After you get the rhythm, you may then increase the intensity of your routines.
Have measurable goals. Whether it is a specific weight, waistline, bicep circumference or others be sure to have a way to track your progress. This gives you an indication whether your efforts are enough or improvements are needed. Get a baseline measurement before you start your routines.
Just be aware that the results you are looking for may not appear right away so checking the scales everyday may not be a good idea. A weight gain after a week of exercising may discourage you from continuing (though it is normal in some cases due to muscular buildup). Measure on long intervals – like around once a week at most. These intervals usually give time to show significant results and indicate the efficiency of your exercise as well.
Make a small distraction. While doing your regimen, try to listen to upbeat music or place your treadmill in front of a television set. You can also do work-outs with a buddy who you can talk to. These things can decrease the stress your mind is going through while exercising. This, of course, may not always be applicable especially in regimens with some risk like heavy lifting, swimming and others.
Eat right. Exercising is not an excuse to eat more. Eating the proper food increases the efficiency of your exercise. Different exercise goals have different exercises as well as diet prescriptions (weight loss, toning, buffing up, cardio, endurance training and others). Avoid junk foods and soda as they do not fit in any known diets for fitness programs. Looking forward to “cheat days” – eating “no-no” foods or binging puts you a step backward.
Be Accountable. One way to help you maintain a disciplined posture when it comes to diet and exercise is to be accountable to someone. It works even better if that someone is also accountable to you. The two of you make sure you both eat right and exercise regularly. This helps resist the temptation of deviating to your planned regimen.
For starters, enrolling in a fitness center may help you jump start the habit. Fitness experts are there to help you get it on and give advise on which equipment you need to use to get your desired results. You will also meet individuals on different fitness levels – some may also serve as inspirations. Signing up for different scheduled fitness sessions and group exercises helps you boost your progress and have fun as well. Start as early as it may get difficult later in life especially when aging and medical conditions start to manifest.