Easter always reminds me ¼ of the New Year has past. It seems to go by faster every year.
We have turned the corner out of winter and into Spring.
How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions? Are you holding fast and true, or have they been buried in excuses?
How about regular exercise?
Are you regularly exercising?
This We All Know
The habit of exercise is the most beneficial for the body.
Regular exercise improves so many areas of life, the most important being health.
Regular exercise has many benefits … natural stress reliever , better sleep, lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, better circulation, flexibility, digestion and regularity, better skin & hair, weight loss, more strength, more energy
Anthony Robbins talks about the importance our rituals (habits) are to our wellness in every aspect of our life. It is true; whatever you do as a ritual, over time, becomes a habit. Habitual behaviors can be a positive thing or a negative.
A study, by Dr. Phillippa Lally and her team of doctors, found it takes between 18 days and 254 days for a continually repeated behavior to become a habit. The average time for a person to create a habit is approximately 66 days.
We are what we repeatedly do. ~ Aristotle
Anyone who has had a major health issue or injury will tell you, health is more valuable than anything else.
You experience everything either within or through your body.
It follows that keeping the body’s physical fitness at it’s best should be our foremost goal.
“Everyone is a house with four rooms: Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual”, says Rumer Godden.
So resurrect that goal, even if is not from New Years.
Regular exercise, creating this one habit is the best thing you can do.
Regular exercise, creating and adhering to a fitness plan, is best proactive step to overall good health.
Set a goal.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
~ Lao Tzu
Example Plan:
Not a lot of exercises to begin, just a little at a time to build a firm base.
Like a Redwood tree, great things have small beginnings.
Plan to work out everyday for:
Beginners 30-45 min/day
Sophomores 60-90 min/day
Create your fitness plan around these three areas; strength, flexibility and endurance;
build the muscles; stretch the muscles, tendons and ligaments; ensure the muscles and respiration can work together for extended periods.
You can split up the types of exercises and do one area of focus each day, or mix them together. You have to figure out what works best for your individual body and life style. Ensure you stretch before and after all exercise sessions.
Strength training might include weights, machines or exercises where your support your body weight through movements. Always do pushups.
Flexibility is very important.
Focus 1-3 workouts a week mainly on stretching, with some light calisthenics mixed in to make you sweat a bit. Flexibility exercises should be included before and after an exercise period.
I recommend you try a flexibility and balance-based art like Tai Chi Chuan or Yoga.
For endurance you should find activities that can be performed over a period of at least 20 minutes, that raise the heart rate (make you sweat); walking, jogging, roller blading/skating, bicycling, cross country skiing (climate permitting), etc.
ALWAYS
Check your weight daily
Note your weight weekly, Saturday.
Note your body measurements every 30 days.
Goal is 2 lb. weight loss per week, etc.
Drink water regularly, or tea [black, green, herbal]; it’s good for you.
The body is mostly water. Every day drink as much water as you can comfortably.
Dr.Stephen Covey recommends eating and exercising like you had a heart attack.
Be and feel at your best.
Build your fitness a brick a day.
Get at the work of fitness NOW.
Go For Your Dreams!
Wishing you a wonderful celebration.
Gregory
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Photo thanks to CMYK Colours