This is for the millions of people who are choosing to begin or resume a fitness program this month:
Thank you for your energy and effort, and your critical contribution to public health.
If you have previously been sedentary, and you increase your daily activity to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking), you will significantly reduce your risk for most chronic deadly diseases. In other words, you will be, in a very real way, fighting cancer, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
I am an ACE-certified Personal Trainer, and I wrote this to support and encourage your efforts. Feel free to share the information, but please support EzineArticles.com by referring to the original article.
Take advantage of the season.
Starting an exercise program in January is practically traditional, so you know that a lot of people are just as motivated as you are. This is a great time to look for a walking group or try out a new and interesting exercise class. January is a particularly good time to ask a friend or family member to be your walking partner. Walking is a healthy, inexpensive way to spend time together, and most people find that the support helps keep them on track.
Don't sabotage yourself.
If you are thinking about joining a gym, choose one in a convenient location, and make sure you feel comfortable with the atmosphere and the staff. If you think you might prefer a sport, dance, or martial art form, choose something that intrigues you. I usually try new classes on a drop-in basis, but there is nothing like paying for the month in advance to keep me coming back.
If you are pressed for time (and who isn't?), then you might do very well working with a personal trainer. A good trainer will listen to your goals, ask you how much time and energy you are willing and able to put into exercising, and then create safe, interesting, appropriate workouts that will meet your needs. Many clients who initially hire a trainer for weight management also develop better posture and reduce or eliminate lower back pain.
If you are on a very tight budget, you might enjoy streaming or borrowing workout DVDs from companies like Netflix. You can find step-by-step basic instructionals for beginners, vigorous half-hour to hour-long workouts for fit and dedicated home exercisers, workouts for special needs (such as pregnancy), themed workouts such as dance or martial arts to keep things interesting, and quick workouts (10-15 minutes) which generally target one body part and are very useful for people on tight schedules. The quality and safety of workout DVDs can range from Good to Bad to Ugly, so please read reviews and use your common sense.
Finally, you can look online for printed or video workouts. The quality and safety of these can vary even more than that of published DVDs, so please be careful.
Set some goals.
Set yourself a specific, measurable, effort-based goal, and give yourself a deadline. Make sure that your goal is reasonable given your lifestyle and fitness level: "I will work up to walking two miles per day by the middle of February" is probably better than "I will run 20 miles per day starting tomorrow." Make note of our progress along the way, and congratulate yourself as you hit your milestones.
Many people begin an exercise program in order to achieve a physiological goal (such as reducing body fat). Those goals should also be specific, attainable, and on a sensible timeline. I strongly recommend that people who wish to change their bodies also set goals that directly reflect their daily efforts.
Understand nutrition.
It's easy to be disciplined in the gym. It is not so easy to be disciplined in the kitchen, and it can be even harder when you eat away from home. 75% of your physical results will depend on how you eat, so it is important to fuel all the work you're doing with the right fuel.
Thank you for your energy and effort, and your critical contribution to public health.
If you have previously been sedentary, and you increase your daily activity to at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking), you will significantly reduce your risk for most chronic deadly diseases. In other words, you will be, in a very real way, fighting cancer, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.
I am an ACE-certified Personal Trainer, and I wrote this to support and encourage your efforts. Feel free to share the information, but please support EzineArticles.com by referring to the original article.
Take advantage of the season.
Starting an exercise program in January is practically traditional, so you know that a lot of people are just as motivated as you are. This is a great time to look for a walking group or try out a new and interesting exercise class. January is a particularly good time to ask a friend or family member to be your walking partner. Walking is a healthy, inexpensive way to spend time together, and most people find that the support helps keep them on track.
Don't sabotage yourself.
If you are thinking about joining a gym, choose one in a convenient location, and make sure you feel comfortable with the atmosphere and the staff. If you think you might prefer a sport, dance, or martial art form, choose something that intrigues you. I usually try new classes on a drop-in basis, but there is nothing like paying for the month in advance to keep me coming back.
If you are pressed for time (and who isn't?), then you might do very well working with a personal trainer. A good trainer will listen to your goals, ask you how much time and energy you are willing and able to put into exercising, and then create safe, interesting, appropriate workouts that will meet your needs. Many clients who initially hire a trainer for weight management also develop better posture and reduce or eliminate lower back pain.
If you are on a very tight budget, you might enjoy streaming or borrowing workout DVDs from companies like Netflix. You can find step-by-step basic instructionals for beginners, vigorous half-hour to hour-long workouts for fit and dedicated home exercisers, workouts for special needs (such as pregnancy), themed workouts such as dance or martial arts to keep things interesting, and quick workouts (10-15 minutes) which generally target one body part and are very useful for people on tight schedules. The quality and safety of workout DVDs can range from Good to Bad to Ugly, so please read reviews and use your common sense.
Finally, you can look online for printed or video workouts. The quality and safety of these can vary even more than that of published DVDs, so please be careful.
Set some goals.
Set yourself a specific, measurable, effort-based goal, and give yourself a deadline. Make sure that your goal is reasonable given your lifestyle and fitness level: "I will work up to walking two miles per day by the middle of February" is probably better than "I will run 20 miles per day starting tomorrow." Make note of our progress along the way, and congratulate yourself as you hit your milestones.
Many people begin an exercise program in order to achieve a physiological goal (such as reducing body fat). Those goals should also be specific, attainable, and on a sensible timeline. I strongly recommend that people who wish to change their bodies also set goals that directly reflect their daily efforts.
Understand nutrition.
It's easy to be disciplined in the gym. It is not so easy to be disciplined in the kitchen, and it can be even harder when you eat away from home. 75% of your physical results will depend on how you eat, so it is important to fuel all the work you're doing with the right fuel.
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