7 Easy Tips for Getting Fit
Here are some quick, easy tips to get started on your path to fitness:
1. Go to the gym. As my dad always says, the hardest part of going to the gym is getting there, so if you're lazy like me, you have to think to yourself that you're never going to make any progress if you're sitting on the couch all day eating pretzels and oreos. Just get there and then it's smooth sailing.
2. If you don't belong to a gym and you don't want to start or you personally just don't like using equipment, you can still get fit. Some good ways are bodyweight exercises, yoga, and walking/jogging/running.
a. Bodyweight exercises just mean that, instead of using equipment to exercise, you are using the weight of your body to exercise; pretty self-explanatory, I know. The possibilities are endless with these workouts. I like to use apps to give me ideas of what to do instead of just going in blindly (which you should never ever do when exercising!). Some of my favorite bodyweight exercises that I try to do every day are leg-lifts, crunches, squats, and push-ups.
b. Yoga is a practice which is a combination of breathing control, meditation, and many bodily postures. Yoga is very relaxing and is a great way to get fit in a steady and healthy way. It is also a great way to get on the path to wellness and mindfulness.
c. Walking, jogging, and running are all great forms of cardiovascular exercise (cardio). The picture below illustrates the many reasons why it's a great idea to start walking/jogging/running.
3. Drink water! You'll never be truly fit if you're downing gatorade and energy drinks all the time. Water is amazing. Here are just a few of the reasons why water is so, so great: it improves your mood, it relieves fatigue, it boosts energy levels, it flushes out toxins, it improves digestion, it alleviates back pain, it regulates body temperature, etc. But make sure you drink enough for your own body. (Your weight ÷ 2 = ounces of water to drink).
4. Eat healthy foods! Again, you'll never be truly fit if you're eating cheeseburgers and doritos all the time. Natural foods that come directly from the earth are best. Try looking in the produce section of your local grocery store for some great ingredients for your meals and smoothies. Some nuts, like almonds, can go a long way too.
5. Stretch. It is very important to stretch before and after a workout as to not hurt yourself and further prevent yourself from getting fit.
6. Keep a positive mindset and don't focus on losing weight. If your only goal is to lose weight, you're always going to be disappointed when you don't lose it as fast as you want to and you won't feel good about yourself when you look in the mirror. Instead of focusing on weight loss, focus on the fact that you are taking the steps to make your body as healthy as it can be and that every day that you spend working on it is a step in the right direction. Focus on the muscles forming under your skin and the limits you're pushing and the ways that you are bettering yourself. Be proud because you have a reason to be!
7. Alternate between cardio and weightlifting. Create a balance.