Simplify Life: Exercise – How to Find Something You’ll Stick With

Monday, October 1, 2012

Exercise – How to Find Something You’ll Stick With

People resolve every year to eat more nutritious food and get plenty of exercise. Yet, there never seems to be enough time for exercise and it’s all too easy to slip back into bad habits.

The only way to stick to a routine is find something that you really like. The nice thing about exercising is that if you don’t like one form there are so many others you can try. The goal is to increase your heart rate and lung capacity, maintain and increase flexibility and bone mass, strengthen muscles and connecting tendons.

Your personal health goals will partially dictate what form of exercise you choose. Do you want to exercise to be social, lose weight, get fit, improve cardio, relieve pain or reduce stress, or enter a marathon? It would be good to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine to see what will benefit you the most.

The other part of the equation is to think about what you enjoy. Are you happier in a group or on your own? Do you enjoy competition? Do you need a trainer to keep you motivated or are you self-motivated? Are you uncomfortable with someone watching you? Would you prefer popping in a DVD at home? Do you like music or time for quiet reflection? Do you prefer being indoors or outdoors? Do you like repetitive routines that you master or do you enjoy mixing it up?

Here’s a partial list of types of exercise to give you ideas of what you may choose:

Aerobics involves continuous movement of large muscle groups that increase cardio respiratory endurance and promote weight loss – cycling, swimming, rowing, jumping rope, Tae-bo, kickboxing, hiking, stair climbing, brisk walking, jogging, running, tennis, racquetball, soccer, baseball, skiing, spinning, jazzercise, treadmill, stepper, dancing or low-intensity water aerobics.
Anaerobic or resistance exercise forces muscle contractions and increases speed and strength – weight training, sprinting, plyometrics, sit-ups, push-ups, and leg lifts.
Flexibility and stability exercises enhance muscle and joint range of motion – yoga, stretching, tai chi, core training, pilates, and mini trampoline (rebounding).

Which exercise is right for you? The one that you enjoy doing! After assessing your needs and preferences, pick two or three activities that create a thorough workout over the course of the week. Don’t overlook playing with your children as a great way to get exercise. The key is to get moving and enjoy life.

Can’t find the time to squeeze in enough exercise? If you live in the Silicon Valley and want time for self-care, contact us at Simplify and find out how our professionals can cover the essentials so you have the freedom to choose what you really want to do with your time.