Five fabulous fitness tips
Being fit allows you to get on with your life. It allows you to have enough energy to get through the day, to feel well, to enjoy better health, to have more confidence, to protect against disease, to develop a better attitude. Going about it the right way can help ensure that you achieve your fitness goals.
1. Set realistic and specific goals
Your fitness goals should not be vague. Aiming to “lose some weight” or to “get fitter” will not provide enough motivation. Be specific with you aims; train for a specific fun run, or aim to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific date. Pick an achievable goal and work towards it.
2. Warm up and cool down
Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes before you work out to lower your risk of injury – warm up for long enough to start feeling your body’s temperature rise, i.e. until you feel warmer and looser. Stretching after a workout session is a great way to cool down, increase flexibility and prevent sore muscles.
3. If you’re sick or hurt, take time off
Training when you are sick or hurt is a waste of time. A sick body uses its resources to heal itself, not to build endurance or muscle. Exercising hurt muscles could seriously exacerbate the injury or lead to a longer recovery period. Illness and pain are the body’s way of saying “stop” – so listen and rest.
4. Always include strength training
Strength training is an important part of any fitness schedule, also for women. Strength training builds muscle and increases bone density. All the major muscle groups should be trained between one and three times a week.
5. Take a break
Take a break from fitness training by taking off one or two days a week to give your muscles time to rest. Ensure you get between 7 and 9 hours of deep sleep every night. A monthly massage is great to help tight and sore muscles relax and release. If something is worth doing, it is worth doing right. If you have the right goals and go about it the right way, fitness and all its benefits are within easy reach.
Sources
thepursuitoffitness.com
Reader’s Digest Good Health Fact Book. Reader’s Digest.
www.bodyandsoul.com.au
www.fitnessmagazine.com