Home | Health | Exercise
A sensible diet and regular exercise are the key ingredients to weight loss. Yet these difficult tasks are often so hard to accomplish and more easily said than done. I maintain that when it comes to exercise, effectiveness is all about attitude and approach. It is amazing, that with some thought, creativity and planning, you can take your daily routine and intertwine exercise in many ways. But it will take that important step of decision, a decision which will add to your life and take away from your waist! Make sure you don't fall for the latest infomercial featuring exercise machines. You don't actually need to spend a lot of money. Maybe you have some equipment previously purchased. If so, that's fine, dust it off and set it up somewhere you'll pass everyday so that you're more inclined to use it regularly. Those kinds of tummy sucking wonders tend to be large and take up lots of storage, so only go for one if you have the place to put it. Otherwise, consider purchasing a large exercise ball; these are cheap and effective for exercising most of your muscle groups. Exercise does not have to take hours out of every day. There are a number of brilliant daily exercise DVDs on the market that take between 15 and 20 minutes. If you can manage this three times a week or more you will be on your way to a better physique. Most people find that first thing in the morning is the best time to do their 20 minutes. At least there will be fewer interuptions and you will be able to spend your day knowing it's behind you, a great feeling! If you leave it til any other time you may find it playing on your mind during the day and you might feel as though it's hanging over your head. Unexpected things often come up and you'll find it squeezed out of your routine for that day. After you've missed one session you may feel a bit disappointed with yourself and less keen to continue. Does any of this sound familiar? Overcome such obstacles by choosing a time that's best for you, and stick to it. Make it enjoyable. If something has to be endured rather than enjoyed it probably wont last. Sit down with pen and paper and jot down ten things you love doing. Then examine your list and see how you could incorporate exercise naturally into these activities. If one of the items on your list is - playing squash with a friend - then you're laughing! But chances are that your items are more along the lines of - dining out with my partner - and this will take some creative thought. For instance, where could you go to eat which is atmospheric, delicious, provides you with some healthy dietary options and also is near to a lovely beach or nature walk? Consider cycling to your cafe destination, and take the whole family! What great memories you'll make, plus you'll be modelling healthy living to your kids. In the summertime, my wife and I make a habit of taking the kids for a sunset walk on the beach, after dinner. No one's allowed to watch television until we return. What wonderful conversations and laughs we have enjoyed in these times of fresh air and no distractions. Informally, you can make sure you're getting enough exercise. Examine your everyday routine. Do you always use television remote controls? Hide them! Do you look for the closest parking spot to the door of the shopping centre? Park as far away as you can and enjoy the walk. The walk back to the car with heavy shopping bags will serve as a substitute for lifting weights at your local fitness centre! (Cheaper, too!) Make a decision now to take the stairs, not the lift. If you are a bus traveller, consider alighting one stop later than usual and walk back. If you stare at a computer screen for most of your working day, set your phone alarm and at two assigned times every day take a brisk walk around the block. Watch your productivity and feeling of well being improve! Compete with yourself. If you manage to organise a daily walk (or a walk three times a week as a minimum), have fun by creating a chart and display it somewhere prominent such as on your fridge. Time yourself each walk and watch as you shave minutes off your previous best time. This will inevitably happen as you get fitter and fitter. Include a column to measure your pulse when you return home and you'll also be thrilled to see your fitness levels increase. Before long you'll be able to increase the length of your walk and still return home within the same time period. Exercise somewhere inspiring. The great thing about brisk walking is that you can choose your destination. Get in your car and go to a place you love. If you're very lucky you will live near a lake, beach, river, forest or scenic area. Perhaps your favourite place is a shopping centre. I know a lady who combines retail therapy with her need for company and exercise and so walks the length of her local shopping centre five times every morning! It's whatever works for you! It is frequently the case that the overzealous are their own worst enemy. They throw themselves into gruelling exercise routines after determining they will not be slack this time, and end up either injurred or just exhausted, despondent and experiencing lots of aches and pains. Sound familiar? This is no foundation on which to build the rest of your life. Start slowly, move gradually to the next challenge, and be sensible. Your safety is paramount. So don't go jogging if you'd be better off walking briskly or swimming. And try to organise yourself an exercise buddy for accountability, encouragement and safety. One of the best forms of exercise which suits most people is swimming. It's suitable for all ages, is low impact and works most muscle groups. In hot weather it's refreshing, and if you're lucky enough to live near a heated pool it can be enjoyed all year round. Swimming especially suits those who don't want to let anyone else down as it can be an individual activity and it doesn't matter if you're not very sporty. Swimming benefits everyone, even those who don't swim particularly well. Some people just thrive on competition and if that's you, ensure you are in some kind of team sport competition. Recognise that motivational quality in yourself and feed it by joining your local footy or netball competition. Team sports are useful for helping us feel obliged to turn up regularly; the rest of the team make us accountable, which helps keep us on the straight and narrow! Give yourself every advantage and see results fast by consuming water during your exercise and a whey protein based shake or drink after your finish. It is best to have the protein about 30 minutes after you stop as this will assist in burning fat as energy and greatly aid building muscle tone. There are a number of great products on the market which actually help the body recover after exercise. L Carnitine is a must if weight loss is a priority. Now is the day to make a resolve. Resolve to make some changes in your lifestyle which will result in regular, enjoyable exercise. If it's enjoyable you'll adopt it as a natural part of your lifestyle. If it's regular it will become a healthy habit. I dare you to start brainstorming ways you can get more active within the confines and time limits of your present lifestyle. Weight loss and improved well being will necessarily follow.
Article Source: http://www.SponsorDirectory.com/Free-Content
Colin Johnson has been a recognised fitness expert and elite sports coach in a variety of arenas. He highly recommends whey protein shakes for muscle recovery and development and L Carnitine for weight loss and increased stamina. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
