Choosing the right exercise for you isn’t all that difficult when you simply stop to think about what you enjoy doing. It will also depend on whether or not you want to join a health club or gym and pay a monthly membership fee. Or if you want to go out and buy exercise equipment for your home. Not choosing an exercise program that you really want to do will only lead to you quitting in a short amount of time. This is why this area is the most critical.
Running/Jogging
Once you determine what you enjoy, getting started will be easy. Give it some thought. Do you like jogging? If not, then don’t even consider it. Do you enjoy going on long walks? Then turn this enjoyment into an exercise routine that will give you the ability to lose some weight and improve your health.
Walking
Walking is great exercise, and it doesn’t even cost money to do. All it takes is a good pair of walking shoes. It’s an activity for anyone of any level of fitness. It allows you to gradually build up strength and endurance over time. Walking is also a great social exercise. Find a partner to talk with while you exercise and you’ll both enjoy yourselves even more. It also makes time fly.
A great way to get started is begin walking for 15 minutes a day. After a week, go another 5-10 minutes, and then continue raising it by 5 minutes every two weeks. Another key to making your routine more interesting is to walk a different route off and on. Another idea is to have a few different friends you can walk with to change things around.
Sports/Hobbies
Some other ideas for exercise include joining a sports club for activities such as badminton, squash, golf or tennis. There are many cycling clubs that meet regularly for rides. Participate in a team sport such a basketball, soccer or rowing. These are not only fun activities, but they provide wonderful exercise for people of all ages. They also allow you to meet new friends.
Join a Gym/Health Club
Other than walking you may want to join a health club, or your local YMCA. There you can access to a trainer who can set you up on a personal fitness program and help answer questions you might have. Check around and talk to a few different clubs before joining. Be sure the equipment is in good condition and that the place is clean. Is the staff friendly and helpful? If not, move on to a different facility.
Strength training
The best option to start may be to hire a certified personal trainer for three or four sessions to develop a plan for you and show you how to properly use the equipment. You can use weight machines, free weights, or resistance equipment like specially made rubber bands, and you can strength train at a health club or at home. Strength training videos that show you how to use common household items such as food cans and water bottles can help save expenditures on weights or other fancy equipment.
Regardless of the exercise you choose, be sure to start out at a low level of intensity. You can build it up as you continue over the next several weeks. There is no need to overdo it. You’ll only decide to quit when you can no longer maintain the pace you set for yourself. In addition, if you start off too hard, you could end up with an injury.
So, make a decision to get out and start exercising today. Your body will be happy you did.