“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. ” ~ Jim Rohn
Whether you are trying to lose weight or just improving your overall health, fitness can be challenging with today’s busy schedules. Just implementing small, incremental actions can make a significant difference in your life. Here are five ways to get you started:
1. Be a Kid Again: What was your favorite activity when you were growing up? Was it tennis, swimming, riding your bicycle? Think back to the types of things you enjoyed as a kid and find a way to bring that activity back into your life.
For me, it was roller skating. I grew up on roller skates but hadn’t been able to skate since I was a child. About two years ago, I moved to a city that had an old-fashioned, hardwood floor skating rink with a huge pipe organ that they still use on specific nights. I was thrilled to have such a wonderful place to roller skate and it is great exercise. The best part is I feel like I’m ten years old again.
2. Instant Recess: While you’re still feeling like a kid, you might also try something called Instant Recess. Instant Recess gives you at least two ten-minute exercise breaks during the work day. There are instant recess exercise videos available on YouTube or you can do your own form of exercise.
I learned about this program at a health conference I attended several months ago because many workplaces are starting to offer it to employees. As people become more aware that long periods of sitting have been shown to be as dangerous as smoking, they are looking for ways to increase their activity during the day. Studies have shown that if you do the videos twice a day for three months or more, you should be able to maintain your existing weight. If you add an additional ten minutes of exercise each day, you should actually lose weight.
3. Moves App for iPhone: A fun tool I recently discovered is the Moves app for my iPhone and for Android. It’s like a pedometer that tracks your steps during the day. Using this app was eye opening for me because it clearly illustrated that I’m not getting enough exercise on certain days.
The nice thing about this app is that it keeps track of where you travel and seems to be able to distinguish if you are moving in the car versus exercising. It even tracks steps on the elliptical at the gym so I make a point to wear my phone when I work out.
4. Listen to something: When I exercise, I often listening to inspiring music, podcasts, or books from Audible. Audible was a great find for me because I have a lot of required reading for my graduate coursework and my business. Audible allows me to make my time at the gym even more productive, and the time goes by very quickly.
5. Create a habit: Establish set times for your fitness routines or add reminders to your calendar to help remind you when to exercise. Consistent, regular activity is the single most important thing you can do to improve your fitness.
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -Jim Ryan
What is your favorite way to improve your fitness? Share your thoughts below.
