Eight Fitness Tips To Get You Moving

Magazines advertising articles on fitness tips are quickly snatched up from the stands. A new exercise fad starts every few years.

First it was aerobics. Then weight lifting. Next entered yoga. A few years ago, Pilates hopped on the bandwagon.

No doubt about it, they all have their place in the world of fitness. They all help improve overall health as well as facilitate weight loss. But how well are we applying these exercise programs and fitness tips?

Look around you in any public place. Many people are out of shape and overweight. I believe that is due to, in part, that many books about fitness programs can make you think you'd have to quit your job to stay in shape. Or get a second job to pay for the equipment and/or gym fees.

Bottom line: we think we are too busy or don't have enough money to do the exercise thing right, so we don't do it at all.

The benefits of exercise

But the benefits of exercise extend even further. Regular exercise has been found to reduce inflammation, which can lead to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Exercise promotes a healthy colon by literally moving waste out. And it is by far the most natural way to increase your energy level.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the benefit many people hope to reap by getting in the groove: weight loss. If you are one of those people, the upcoming fitness tips will help you to meet your weight loss goals.

Many health practitioners believe that a regular exercise routine can also help rid your body of toxins. In fact, one of the hottest selling pieces of fitness equipment out there is the rebounder, or trampoline.

Jumping on a rebounder for just ten minutes a day, say rebounding enthusiasts, cleans out your lymph nodes (which trap foreign invaders as a function of the immune system) throughout the entire body.

Eight fitness tips to reshape your life and your body

1. Carve out 20-30 minutes every day, five days a week.

Now, let’s make sure we understand each other. If you want to train for a triathlon, twenty minutes of weight-lifting every day will help a little, but not much. And if you plan to swim across the English Channel, you’ll have to do more than stand on your head for ten minutes every morning.

However, if you’re the typical person wanting to maintain a healthy weight (or lose a little), keep your muscles toned, and get your heart rate up a little, you are much more likely to find room in your schedule for an exercise routine.

2. Do something you enjoy.

However, if walking is all you can afford or have time to do, by all means, take a walk every day. The key word in this tip is "enjoy."

Do you dislike weight lifting? Try yoga. Does the thought of jogging make you cringe? Try biking.

Yes, it is important to vary your exercise routine somewhat in order to work the various muscle groups. And absolutely, you should include a few minutes of stretching several times a week. But rule number one of exercise should be: do something you enjoy on a regular basis. Otherwise, you just plain old won’t do it.

3. Have a plan B for inclement weather.

Get out your whip and lash away the temptation devil. It will only serve to promote weight gain, low energy, and diminished muscle tone.

Have a plan B in mind for when bad weather comes to your neighborhood. If you have a two-story home, run up and down the stairs. Do what my husband did and buy a jump rope and exercise mat. Have a small rebounder handy in your garage.

4. Exercise with a friend.

Invite a neighbor to power-walk with you in the morning. Arrange to meet with a colleague twenty minutes early for work, and go to the company gym together. Get your spouse to do some weight-training with you.

5. Exercise at the same time every day.

Choose a time when your world is relatively calm and undemanding. Before your kids wake up, for example, or in the evening just before sundown.

6. If you're trying to lose weight, exercise first thing in the morning.

Your body burns more fat throughout the day if you exercise before eating your first meal. 'Nuff said.

7. Write down your fitness goals.

Do you want to be able to walk two flights of stairs without getting out of breath? Lose ten pounds? Be able to bench-press 100 pounds?

Get a piece of paper and write it down. Then tape it to the bathroom mirror so you will remember it.

8. Exercise in smaller time increments.

Do five minutes of stretching immediately upon awakening. Do some squats right before lunch. Take a five-minute walk before getting in your car and driving home.

May I coach you? Something is better than nothing, and even doing a little exercise at a time will go a long way to keep you fit.

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