Adventure Doc Fitness

I tell people to begin their journey into exercising with walking. Walking is great and has so many benefits; it would take a week to list them all. Probably the hardest thing about exercising is actually getting ready to do it. While you are exercising, it is not that bad. The time leading up to it is harder because you are not looking forward to it. Try to set a schedule and stick to it. Don’t make the schedule too hard, or you won’t follow it.

Make sure that you follow it. I think 3 days per week is a good place to start. 3 days per week of walking around your block will make amazing changes in your body, your attitude and your health. I am not saying that each walk should be 10 miles long, either! I think time is the best measure. Set a goal of walking for 10 or 15 minutes, 3 times per week. If it is easy…good for you! As I said, the hard part of exercise is sticking with the schedule, not actually doing the exercise. If it is easy, you should have no excuse for not doing it. Make it a ritual and do it on the same days, each week. Stick with it! I promise that you will feel so good after you are finished. You will feel healthier and happier about yourself. Exercise is the best stress reliever I know. You will feel much more in control of your own life.

Moving to the next level of exercise is another thing that is very important. Go slow! My rule is that if you are sticking to the schedule you set, and are not skipping days, for 2 weeks, you can consider advancing it. Remember to keep your goal in mind. Are you looking to run a marathon? Are you looking to be the strongest person in the world? People literally devote all their time and lives to exercise. That is not a good balance. Most of us live in a world that we have other responsibilities. Remember to keep your exercise in perspective.

With that said, advancing your exercise program is a personal choice. If you chose to advance your program, do it slowly and make sure that you can stick with the schedule. A good program that takes too much time and never gets started is not as good as an easy program that is done 3 times per week. If you are walking 15 minutes a day, three days per week, try increasing it to 20 minutes. Try some floor exercises in your house.

Too much of one exercise type is not good, mix it up! You should be trying to exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times per week. If you are doing this…keep it up! This is how you lose weight, build muscle, stay young, stay healthy and live a longer and happier life. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel doing some regular exercise.

The benefits from regular exercise are great. By regular exercise, I mean doing something 3 days per week for at least 20-30 minutes. You will lower your blood pressure. Your cholesterol will go down. Your bones will be come stronger. Your muscles will become stronger. You will sleep better at night. Your circulation in your legs and arms will improve. You will develop a stronger immune system, meaning you will get sick less and recover quicker. You will lose weight. You will be hungrier and eat a bit more food, and still lose weight! You will be more regular in the bathroom. Your aches and pains in the joints will lessen or even disappear. You will have less stress and more fun in your life. You will feel in control of your own life. You will be healthier and happier.

Remember, as your exercise more, your body will lose unwanted weight and develop muscles. You will also feel yourself wanting to eat more, to replace the energy used in your exercise. Make sure you eat healthy foods! Don’t give your body cake muscles! Give your body good foods to make it stronger. You are spending a lot of time and energy on making yourself better and healthier with exercise. Make sure that you eat 2 healthy meals per day and eat what you want on the other meal!