Exercise – Start Today!
Make this the year you take control of your health and well-being. Start now so you can look and feel good by Spring, be ready for sunny fun in the Summer, fit into a new wardrobe by Fall, and brave the Winter months with readiness, focus, and endurance. Those who are already active reap the benefits of a healthier and happier lifestyle. In other words, they have an advantage over all of those who haven’t made exercise a part of their routine. Which one are you? If exercise isn’t already a part of your lifestyle, the time to start is now. Regular exercise can significantly improve your life. Imagine how you’d feel if you could look even better, have more confidence and increase your self-esteem. Imagine if you could perform better, think clearer, have more energy, have more vitality, be healthier, be happier and even live longer. Being active not only improves the physical aspect of your body, but it also improves your mindset. All these positive effects extend out to other areas of your life. Being sedentary is a health risk.
The earlier you take care of your health, the stronger your mind and body become to better take on whatever stresses and demands may appear in your life.
Activity amongst older adults has increased in recent years as we have come to understand the grave consequences that being inactive can have on one’s health. Sadly, many people resort to exercise only after they realize that their health is in jeopardy. In many cases regular exercise would have prevented many of these physical complications. Why not start earlier and help reduce your chances of illness and disease? Illness and disease can happen at any age. The earlier you take care of your health, the stronger your mind and body become to better take on whatever stresses and demands may appear in your life.
Are you having difficulty getting to sleep on time or getting the right amount of sleep? Physical activity during the day can help you rest better at night. It can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Getting the right amount of quality sleep also improves the way you function and keeps you sharper every day.
Are you looking to lose some unwanted fat? The good news is that the more intensely you exercise, the more calories you burn. People who exercise look more toned than those who don’t.
How well do you really know your body? Exercise can help you to develop a deeper connection with your body. This improved body awareness will help you better understand your needs so that you can address them immediately and appropriately. Your body will let you know whether you need to exercise, rest, relax, etc. As with all good things, it is possible to over exercise. Rest is just as important as exercise. If your body is craving a rest, give into it. Resting allows your body to rebuild and heal. You can exercise for most days of the week but you must allow the muscles that you trained to rest for at least for 24-72 hours depending on the intensity that you worked. Sufficient rest is important so that you don’t over-train. If more is needed, provide yourself with it. Fulfilling your needs appropriately is crucial for a healthy body and a peaceful mind.
Ever catch yourself in a lousy mood? It’s not a good feeling is it? Your energy and outlook on life also affects everyone you come in contact with. Exercise can improve your mood by causing your body to produce endorphins, which are chemicals that can help a person to feel more happy and relaxed. This will keep you more positive and having a better outlook on life. Until you are happy and at peace with yourself, you won’t be fully able to provide those who depend on you with your very best.
A well-balanced exercise routine incorporates three main components of training. One of the three components is aerobic exercise. Regular aerobic exercise helps to strengthen your heart and lungs to be more efficient in delivering oxygen to your cells. This can leave you breathing easier and keep your blood flowing smoothly by lowering the buildup of plaques in your arteries. Aerobic exercise can help to prevent or manage high blood pressure and also help to decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancer. Furthermore, aerobic exercise helps to lower your chances of heart disease, lower your cholesterol and also increase your stamina.
The second of the three components to a well-balanced exercise routine is weight training. Women are especially prone to a condition called osteoporosis (a weakening of the bones) as they get older. Research also shows that weight-bearing exercises can help build bone density, decreasing the chance of fracture and osteoporosis that may develop with age. Studies link physical activity with increased bone strength in children, teens, men and women, and even adults 90 years age or older. However, not only does strength training build stronger bones, but it also helps you to build muscle tone and increase your metabolism which means that you will burn more calories even at rest.
The third component of a well-balanced exercise routine, which you should also include, is flexibility training. Flexibility exercises can help the body become more limber and flexible to move freely and fluidly. Your body is made to move. Stiffness in the body can develop into a disease in the future. A body with no tension reduces the chances of having strained muscles or sprains. Gymnastics, martial arts, pilates, yoga and ballet are all ways to keep flexible. A good warm up followed by simple stretching exercises before and after your workout can also help you develop flexibility.
Remember that exercise is not supposed to be a chore. It should be fun and enjoyable to make it a permanent part of your lifestyle. If you get bored, don’t hesitate to try something new. If you want to stick to any kind of regimen, you must keep yourself interested and excited. Find an activity that you enjoy and make time for it.
Exercise comes in many forms and doesn’t only have to take place at a gym. Remember, you don’t have to exercise alone; you can do it with a friend. Ballroom dancing, salsa, rock climbing and tennis are all great ways to exercise outside of the gym. Keep in mind that after participating in physical activity for at least 30 dedicated minutes a day, all your activity for the rest of the day helps burn even more calories. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going for a walk during your lunch break, doing some abdominal crunches during commercials are all ways to keep yourself active.
While exercise can help to improve your life, you need to ensure that your activity is safe and appropriate for your level. Consult with your doctor first to help you determine whether you have any health conditions to consider before working out and what exercises you might have to avoid. Always start slowly and gradually increase your intensity. Make progress at your own pace. There’s no need to rush your goals. Exercise should be a part of your daily lifestyle for the rest of your life.
If you need a pilates, yoga, dance, martial arts, or weight-training instructor, don’t hesitate to seek out an expert for category_idance. Having the right instruction and direction will save you time and make the most out of your efforts. Spend your time wisely and ensure that what you are doing is helping you rather than harming you more.
Staying fit is often one of the biggest challenges for people, as they get busy with college and careers. Don’t get down on yourself if you occasionally skip the gym. We all get sidetracked at times but as long as you pick yourself up and continue to care for your health and for your body, you will be fine.
When you consider these benefits from exercise, why would you want any less? It’s easy to see why exercise is wise. We cannot control everything that happens to us, but we can at least take responsibility to improve as much as we can. Take responsibility for your part. Start today to reap the benefits of exercise. Happy New Year everybody! I wish health, fitness and happiness to all!
Every month Anna Wong, personal fitness trainer to the stars, will be writing a column for Asiance Magazine. This column is dedicated to your questions and concerns in health and fitness. Your suggestions and requests are welcome. This column is for you so your feedback is important. To contact Anna, email her at anna@annawongfitness.com.
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