Making sure that you get plenty of exercise is essential to healthy living. If you are looking for tips on how to keep up with a daily exercise routine, the following will help you stay accountable to healthy living.
With the busyness of life, it can be difficult to make exercising a priority. However, exercising should be at the top of your priority list, as it is pertinent that you maintain your health for all of life’s endeavors. Before you choose an exercise program, it is important to visit with your doctor. Starting an exercise program without the consent of a professional is very dangerous. A full physical will ensure that your body is ready for your new lifestyle change. After your doctor, find a personal trainer. Get a consultation and determine what your limits are, how hard you should push yourself, figure out what your body mass index is, and get circumference measurements. Ask questions to get familiar with different machines, muscles groups, and methods of exercising.
Once you have a solid foundation and knowledge of how to proceed, you can start. But don’t go too fast. If you do too much when you are first starting out, you risk overdoing it. Start with programs that can be built upon, such as walking for about 30 minutes three times a week. Each week you can add to your workout. When you finish a workout take notes on how your body responds to particular activities. List out all that you accomplish and how it makes you feel. Several weeks down the road, you can look back and see your progression.
For accountability purposes, it is important to schedule your workouts. Just as you would put an appointment on your calendar, make sure that you make exercising a planned, mandatory event. When you put it down on the schedule, ask your friends and family to participate. Having someone to exercise with will keep you accountable and encourage your family to participate in healthy living.
It is important to acknowledge that every action you take has an effect on your physical wellbeing. The distance you have to walk from your car to the grocery store entrance, the amount of caffeine you intake each day, and the foods you choose to eat all make an impact on your physical health. In addition to exercising, eating and drinking healthy will ensure faster progress.
When you work hard, you get rewarded. Set goals for yourself. When you progress to a new level of difficulty or workout each day for a month, take some time for yourself. Reward yourself with something constructive your new lifestyle—new clothes, a relaxing massage, etc. Avoid using food as a reward. You do not want to tempt yourself with old habits.
And finally, eat throughout the day so that your energy is high enough to complete a workout at night. Eat small portions all throughout the day. This will keep your energy high, giving you a much better workout.