Best Exercise Ever!
I had exercise equipment in my house that was great for hanging clothes. Problem is, I didn’t use it for its intended purpose.
I finally joined a gym almost 6 years ago; better late than never, right? As a member of 24-hour Fitness, I recently received an email with the following tips:
Keep fit: Most trainers agree that you need vigorous activity to maintain good health — try to aim for 5 workouts a week. Pack your gym bag before you go to bed, and block out the time on your calendar to make it feel official.
Find a Gym Buddy: A partner can help motivate you to get to the gym on a regular basis. You can find members who share your goals and schedule on your local club's Facebook page.
I think these are good. Though if you’ve followed this blog very long at all, you know we don’t like to give lists of advice as much as we want to encourage you to implement philosophies and lifestyle changes that help you be in control of your life.
When it comes to physical exercise, there is one that is the BEST EXERCISE EVER! It’s the one you actually do!
You can have an expensive gym membership, but it’s no good if you never go.
And while it’s probably a great idea to exercise 5 times a week, as recommended by 24-hour Fitness, it may not work for you. I certainly have trouble getting in that many workouts with my busy schedule.
Here are a few principles I've implemented to help me:
Do what works for you. You like working out in your living room to a video? Then do it. You like to walk? Do it? You prefer to swim? Get to a pool!
Join a gym. Being around others who exercise motivates me.
Exercise with a with a friend. I have a friend I go with once a week; it helps both of us get in a workout on Friday nights when, on our own, we might be tempted to just watch a movie, drink beer and eat chips!
Attend a class. My Pilates instructor pushes me byond what I would do myself.
Set goals that are actually attainable. What will you actually do, once a week? 3 times a week? ONCE a week is better than NO times a week. My goal is to get to the gym 2-3 times a week.
Remember SMART goals in relation to your physical exercise. If you’ve been doing nothing, start doing something. Even a 5-minute walk around the block will get you moving and hopefully make you want more.
So what is the BEST EXERCISE EVER? The one you actually do!
Photo by Gary Scott; retrieved from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/792334
