Fitness-Getting Started

Health & Fitness

If you are just starting out on a new fitness plan and you haven’t been very active before then you must take a sensible approach to your new fitness regime and asses just what your body is capable of.
It is unwise to go rushing into things and start off your exercise routine with for example a vigorous hour session of aerobics, slow steady progress with gentle exercises is the way to start with a gradual build up.
The best way to start towards a healthy you is to be more active in your daily routine, but try and put a little more energy into your daily activities, some ways of doing this could be:

• If possible walk to work instead of using transport.
• Walk a little faster than would normally do.
• Always take the stairs instead of using a lift.
• If you travel by bus then get off one stop early and walk the rest of the way.
• If you have a dog then increase the amount of times you take it for a walk.
• When pushing the vacuum cleaner do it a little quicker.
• Join in activities with the children, swimming is great exercise.

What activities do you enjoy?

It’s easy to start off exercising, we all have good intentions at the start and often our expectations are too high of what we can actually achieve, but if the exercise plan isn’t something you really enjoy then you will quickly become bored for sure and with that you will eventually lose interest or your exercise routine will become a chore.
Think about what type of exercise suits you the best and what type of activities you enjoy doing, very often exercising alone can be boring so try to get the rest of your family involved perhaps you can go for walks or jog together.
There are also a number of classes available at your local gym which will offer a varied range of activities which can be done together, for example Yoga, Tai-chi, aerobics, dancing and swimming.
Try to vary your everyday exercise maybe one day a brisk walk the next cycling and so on, this way you’re not repeating and there is less chance of boredom setting in and more chance of you sticking to your plan.

Various activities
Activities which can be done in the home

• Following an exercise video or DVD
• Exercise bike
• Vigorous housework
• Gardening
• Rowing machine

Sports

• Swimming
• Dancing
• Squash
• Badminton
• Golf
• Aerobics
• Working out in the gym
• Weight lifting
• Football

Whichever activity you choose to do then always start off slowly and gradually build up over a period of time, never exercise if you are feeling unwell and always consult your Doctor before taking part in any vigorous exercise routine or if you suffer from any serious medical condition.
If at anytime you feel unwell then stop your routine immediately and seek the advice of a Doctor before continuing with your new regime.