So
I'm sure you guys have heard (read) me mention that staying active has been a
lifestyle of mine since I can remember. I know saying this might make people
cringe but, yes, I actually like going to the gym and working out. Is it easy?
No, heck no, because the reality is that time is very limited in most of
everyone's days. It's not easy fitting in a workout on a regular basis when you
are trying to balance a full time job among getting errands done, preparing and
eating dinner, and trying to get off your feet for at least a half an hour
before bed. At the same time, it's not impossible in fact, it's very doable.
Time has to be the number one excuse for not
working out but it's definitely not the only thing holding people back.
Truthfully, a workout can be done from home while watching TV or it can be a
quick 10 minute cardio blast (jumping jacks, burpees, mountain climbers, air squats,
etc) before you get into the shower every day. So if we eliminate time as an
excuse than maybe it's that you simply just don't enjoy working out. The trick
to this is no trick at all, find a workout that you actually don't hate doing
(zumba, kick boxing, swimming, biking – spinning). Once you start feelings
stronger, I swear you’re going to want to continue getting stronger and reach
outside your comfort zone. The Law of Physics (the main one I remember anyway)
says that a body in motion tends to stay in motion. I can't even express how
true this is!
See pictures below for
some quick ways to boost your heart rate (60 seconds each)
Another thing to remember is to not get
discouraged! If you’re just beginning to workout, don't expect weight to fly
off your body. I always say that a healthy lifestyle happens as much in the
kitchen as it does in the gym. Simple equation: Calories in – calories burned.
Another tip is that it takes two weeks for your body to get accustomed so keep
changing up your workouts to keep your body guessing. I personally add new
moves to my work out on a daily basis. It's also very effective to do both
cardio and weight lifting and even inter mix the two. You can do as many of
those crunches as you want but, unless you do that cardio, no one is ever going
to see those abs!
If you’re really, really, not into working out
then take simple steps. Eat smaller portions and snack throughout the day. This
will keep your metabolism going but won't give you the heavy feeling of a full
meal. A great piece of advice is to eat the majority of your carbs earlier in
the day so you have the entire day to burn them off. If you want to treat
yourself and splurge, yes we all do it, it's far better to eat, let's say a
cupcake, at lunch than right before bed (stick to the golden rule- don't eat
within two hours of going to bed). Also, try and walk after eating. Get that
digestive process going! So besides healthier eating habits, I'll go ahead and
mentions the things that we've always heard. Walk whenever possible, take the
stairs instead of the elevator, ride your bike, etc. If you don't do these
things already then they really will make a difference however, don't forget
that your body will get accustomed so try adding a few simple exercises every
cycle.
So why am I writing all this? Well it's
definitely an interest of mine and I like to help people get into and maintain
a more active lifestyle. If you don't know how to work out, and pin point
certain areas of your body, try finding someone who does and join in with them
or... Youtube and Pinterest (two of my favorites) can be very helpful in
discovering new moves and combinations. I'm not a certified personal trainer
nor a nutritionist but I have done my research on health and wellness. These
are things I practice on a daily basis so I'm able to see what really works and
what keeps people in a rut.
Remember, if you’re afraid of the gym or
trying something new, don't be! Everyone you see at the gym, at some point, had
their “first day”. You have to start somewhere and sometime so make that time now!
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