Aerobics and Fitness Daily

A no-nonsense guide to getting in shape from Aerobics and Fitness Daily.

Some say that the hardest part of getting in shape is getting started. If that’s true, then congratulations on taking that first step!

I’m sure you’ve seen and been intimidated by those highly fit people you on television, in the movies, and even running around your neighborhood. The good news is that anyone can become physically fit, and even if you don’t aspire to become the next Bruce Jenner, you’ll still reap the health benefits that come with fitness. To help you get started, we’ve put together this handy guide of things to do to prepare.

1. See your doctor!

Before you get started, it is ALWAYS wise to consult with your doctor or other health professional. Many people jump into fitness programs too quickly, hurt themselves, and then give up. Your doctor can help you decide the right level of activity to start and check you over to make sure there are no health problems to be concerned with. Besides, if you are anything like us, you don’t get to the doctor nearly as often as you should. Your doctor will be very refreshed to hear that you are looking to start exercising - since exercise is the one thing they are prescribing to almost every patient!

If you are over 40, smoke, have high blood pressure, diabetes, or other health issues it is especially critical that you speak with your doctor before started. Remember, the goal is to improve your health, not harm it.

2. Set meaningful, achievable, and recognizable goals!

Decide upon fitness goals that you’d like to meet. Make sure they are meaningful, achievable, and readily recognizable to you. Meaningful means that you’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you meet the goal. Setting a goal that you can already meet is self-defeating. Achievable means don’t set your bar too high. If you can never meet your goals, then you’re likely to become discouraged and quit . And finally, recognizable means set concrete goals. Instead of “look better” choose something like “take 4 inches off my waistline.” Instead of “have more energy” choose something like “walk 5 miles in an hour or less.”

Goals help keep you motivated. As you get nearer to a goal, you’ll naturally find yourself beginning to consider the next goals to set for yourself.

3. Choose your activities!

One of the most important aspects of physical fitness is what activities you choose to engage in. Choose activities that are interesting to you and that suit your current level of fitness. For beginners, walking is a great way to start. As you progress increase the speed and distance of your walks. Also, consider taking part in several different fitness activities to keep from getting bored with any one thing. You can add in a couple of days of weight training at the gym, or tennis on Saturday, or perhaps swimming every other day. The possibilities are endless - the important thing is to just get out there and do it!

4. Start slowly and let yourself progress naturally!

Pace yourself as you start. There’s nothing worse than giving 110% of yourself on your first exercise session. Your body won’t be ready for it, and you’re likely to do more harm than good. Err on the side of caution until your muscles begins to adapt to the changes. At the end of a good workout, you want to feel tired, not exhausted and your muscles need to feel drained, not achy. Every week or two, slowly increase duration or intensity until you feel confident with full exertion.

5. Keep an exercise journal!

A journal will let you see the progress you are making. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a small notebook will do. Enter the date, the activity, the duration, how far you went, how much you lifted, etc. While you may not feel like you are making much progress, a few minutes looking back through the journal will show you just how far you’ve come!

6. Make a commitment!

A journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step. The same is true of exercise. Commit to yourself to follow your new fitness program for two full weeks. Make a deal with yourself that if at the end of those two weeks, you don’t feel better about yourself, that you can quit. Giving yourself a fixed timeframe commitment helps take some of the pressure off. You don’t need to be focused on where you’ll be in six months, you just need to exercise consistently for two full weeks.

7. Get involved!

Find a partner, join a local support group, or even start following one of the many Internet-based fitness communities. Having someone to share your experiences with will make it easier to stick with your program.

So, what are you waiting for? Give your doctor a call, set up that appointment, start thinking about what sorts of activities you like and what goals you’d like to meet. You can get started almost immediately and you’ll be in great shape before you know it!

And keep up with the latest fitness information on Aerobics and Fitness Daily.