Health and fitness are two of the keys to a better life experience. Like any good marriage, there are ground rules to help provide the best experience. Although any time is good to start, the warmth that April brings can help solidify your resolve and open up your options. Here are some tips to help light your way.
Keep the pounding to a minimum. Choose a treadmill or a softer surface if you like to run or walk vigorously.
Vary the muscle patterns you use for aerobic exercise. At your gym, try 10 minutes each of rowing, cycling, stair stepping, and elliptical back to back.
Keep your heart rate up while lifting weights by varying opposing muscle groups. Go from biceps to triceps, leg extensions to ham curls, bench press to lat pull downs. Less rest between sets gets the work done in half the time.
Maximize your pure water/clean air/sunshine ratios. Exercise out of doors when possible.
Add some new flavour. Try yoga, pilates, tai chi, dancing, hiking or get a hula hoop. If it isn’t fun, you won’t keep it up. Don’t forget to breathe fully. Remember, the best six doctors are air, water, sunshine, rest, exercise and diet.
Think of getting a workout buddy to help keep you motivated and accountable. Or get a dog. Include flexibility, aerobic fitness and strength work in the ratios appropriate to your age.
Discover your weakest health link and work primarily on that. Move from weak link to weak link until you haven’t any left.
Up the pace of your household chores by 25 per cent and call it a workout. Crank the tunes.
Work on your health when you’re feeling healthy, not just when you have symptoms. Get a massage, maximize your Vitamin D levels, eat whole foods and organically when possible. Tune up your spine and nervous system, and before you know it you’ll be experiencing fewer symptoms.
Don’t try to change anyone but yourself. Practice random acts of kindness daily.
Sit down to eat anything and stop before you feel full. Think twice before you put anything on your hair or skin that you wouldn’t eat. Avoid chemicals.
Become the most positive person you know. Trade your TV and computer time for people time.
Health and fitness are both a great marriage and a great way to celebrate life. Celebrate well!