For many people in today’s busy world it’s quite easy to come up with
an excuse for not being in shape and exercising regularly. Some of the
more common ones are “I’m too busy”, “There aren’t enough hours in a
day”, and “I’m so tired after work and taking care of the kids all
day”. However most of these are just that, excuses. Unless your doctor
has informed you that you should not exercise, some form of activity or
physical fitness should be a priority on everyone’s daily routine. The
key is realizing that your health is an important part of your life,
and should be made a priority.
The best way to keep is shape is to be involved in some sort of
physical activity on a regular basis (at least 3 times a week). If you
can find a sports activity like swimming, tennis, racquetball,
basketball, baseball, softball, running, or karate that you enjoy this
is just as effective as a regular exercise routine. If it’s something
you enjoy chances are you won’t think of it as drudgery and will look
forward to doing it.
For those of us who don’t participate in some form of sports on a
regular basis we are going to have to come up with regular exercise
program. One of the most successful methods is to get up half an hour
earlier in the morning and exercise. If you really like your sleep this
may be hard, but if you exercise at night it’s much easier to say “I’m
too tired today” and skip it. If you have kids around the house you are
also setting a great example about how important taking care of your
health and your body really is.
The first option to consider is choosing a gym. While a gym can be
expensive you will have access to a wide variety of equipment and
machines that you could never afford or fit into your house. You will
also have access to health professionals like personal trainers.
If a health club is too expensive or doesn’t fit your lifestyle
consider a home gym. You can usually purchase a set of free weights,
exercise bench and floor mat for under $200. If you like exercise
machines such as stair climbers or stationary bikes keep in mind some
of these can be expensive. Watch for garage sales where you can pick up
second hand units at a discount.
Some people prefer the guidance that an exercise tape can give you.
While these are good choices if you are like most people, you’ll get
tired doing the same routine after a few weeks. Consider choosing a
series of tapes, borrowing some from the library, or trading them with
a friend. With the expansion of fitness programs on cable TV you also
have access to a wide variety of programs. If the instructor you like
isn’t on when you exercise consider using your VCR or Tivo to time
shift your viewing.
Once you start exercising regularly make sure you vary your routine and
change it from time to time. This not only keeps you from getting bored
but it keeps your body from getting used to the exercises. Most fitness
experts recommend changing your routine every 6-8 weeks. As with any
fitness program make sure to check with your doctor before beginning an
exercise program.
