With the new year in full swing, many people are looking to dust off their running shoes and get their resolutions going. However, before just jumping into an exercise routine, there are ways that you can ease yourself in without overwhelming your body. While starting an exercise routine can help be beneficial to your health, taking baby steps into your new routine can also be a huge benefit to your health as well. The following are tips on how you can ease your body into a new exercise routine without getting overwhelmed.
Start Walking
Start walking in small increments to build-up to more. Maybe take a walk with your family after dinner or a walk with co-workers after lunch. Not only will this help you get into the healthy habit of exercising, but it will also help you to boost your metabolism. Studies have shown that those who walk after eating have a faster metabolism than those who do not.
Slowly Build-Up
When beginning your exercise routine, slowly build-up. Start with a light warm-up and move into something a little more fast-paced. Be sure to stop after each warm-up round to do a stretch. Do your main workout for as long as you are able to, do not overdo it. If you can only go for ten minutes, only do those ten minutes. You do not want to overexert yourself. When your workout is complete, make sure to do a cool-down and stretch again. By doing so, this will help to prevent injury to the muscles that you have just used.
Stay Moving
Staying moving throughout the day is a habit that active people have. Park further away in the parking lot at the store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Bike instead of drive, if you can. These little changes help to keep you active and help you to better ease into an exercise routine as well.
Take a Rest
While exercising it important, it is also important for your body to have a day to rest. Taking a rest day will not only allow you to recover and take a break mentally, but your body needs the break as well. During this break, your muscles and joints will have a chance to recovery from the stress you put them through during your exercise routine all the other days. Not taking this rest can lead to injury or illness.
Move at your Pace
Do not worry about how fast anyone else around you is moving. You need to do your routine at a pace you are comfortable with. Trying to keep up with others can lead to injury. The more you exercise, the more you will be able to build your pace.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Yes, eating has a lot to do with your exercise routine. In fact, a healthy body is a health balance of nutrition and exercise. What you put into your body is just as important as the work you put into it. Be sure that your diet includes foods that are high in protein and low in sugar, along with plenty of greens and vegetables. Replace your usual drinks with water. It cannot be said enough how important water is to a healthy body. For even more health benefits, consider using the ASEA redox supplement. There are many things you can do for a healthier diet, including taking extra vitamins and supplements.
Exercising is one of the best things that you can do for your body. It can help relieve stress, reduce your risk of certain diseases, and improve your health. No matter what shape you are in, it is possible to get an exercise routine started. Take these tips and ease yourself into an exercise routine that fits your life and tweak the routine as your fitness improves.
You know … I *know* all of these things.
It doesn’t stop me from overdoing it, getting hurt, and getting frustrated because I’m laid out for a time. Last time I started an exercise routine, I was enjoying walking three miles in an hour every day. I enjoyed it so much, I didn’t take any days off. I kept it up for about 2 months, loving it every day. Even went in the rain.
And then I got hurt. I hurt both of my feet so badly (I’m fairly certain bone spurs, although I couldn’t afford to go to the doc), I couldn’t walk. I spent 2 days crawling around my house, and when I had to stand, It was so painful I was in tears. I’d done it before – back when I was in the Navy. I was *always* hurting my feet and ankles. I spent so much time in casts and boots and on crutches it was ridiculous. So, I just waited it out. After a few days, I could walk around the house, but still couldn’t walk around anywhere else. Another week, I made it through the grocery store – buy by the end I was leaning on the cart so heavily I was afraid I’d tip it over. It wasn’t until NINE MONTHS LATER, when I was able to get to the beach in Florida and walk in the sand to stretch everything back out again, that I could walk normally. Since then, I haven’t taken anything else back up because … I’m terrible at restraining myself!
I’m ridiculous, I know.