Starting an exercise program is not easy for many people. If you've never regularly exercised before, consider these tips to ease your body into working out.
Exercise in the Home
You don't necessarily need to purchase a gym membership to start working out. If you feel uncomfortable at a gym, you can make your own home gym with the following equipment: dumbbells, a stability ball, flat bench and resistance band. Having these on hand will allow you to not only effectively workout, but also vary your routine. After all, you don't want to get bored doing the same routines.
Be Safe
Make sure you wear running shoes, that you have comfortable clothes as well as a full-length mirror. Why a mirror? To watch how you're moving. Depending on the move, you'll want to watch that you don't arch your back or pull on your neck and head. Check out fitness magazines for proper workout form in both weight training and cardio. And if you don't want to use a mirror, get a workout buddy – ask this person to check your form to make sure you're doing everything right.
Pencil it in
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, those under 65 years of age should be doing the following: moderate-intense cardio five days a week, half an hour a day; intense cardio three days a week, 20 minutes daily; or up to 10 weight-training moves at 12 reps twice a week. Now that you know this, write your schedule out in your calendar or type it in your BlackBerry. Just make sure you rest each muscle group for 48 hours.
Keep Moving
Even if you're not at home or at the gym, remember to keep up your workout regimen one way or another. Pack a resistance band in your bag. In fact, "many trainers are using the web and music players to reach clients outside of their area. Try downloading your favorite exercises straight to your ipod or MP3 player," advises Suite101 writer Tabatha Juestel.
Overall, exercising can make a difference in your life. Working out at home is a great way to get started; just make sure you avoid injuries by watching how you move. Also, keep your workout on track by scheduling it in. Most of all, fit your workouts in when you're on the road. And to live a healthier life, remember to watch what you eat. Along with exercising, try eating six small meals a day, watch your portions and experiment with new fruits and vegetables.
Additional Reference:
Tosca Reno. The Eat-Clean Diet. Robert Kennedy Publishing, 2007.
