subject: Complete Your Fitness [print this page] Complete Your Fitness Complete Your Fitness
"I'VE NEVER BEEN INTO EXERCISE."
Physical fitness isn't something that should be ignored. Besides the boost in confidence that a better body can bring, there are many health benefits to be gained. More energy, an immunity boost to help fight diseases not to mention avoiding the multitude of diseases and ailments that excessive fat levels can cause.
And the good news is, that contrary to popular belief, a good level of fitness can be achieved with just a little bit of regular exercise and asensiblediet.
"I'VE TRIED EXERCISE IN THE PAST AND GOTTEN NO-WHERE."
From personal experience, I can vouch for lifting weights as a great way to whip yourself into shape. After years of stomach troubles left me a 6 ft 3, 10 stone beanpole, I decided that enough was enough and hit the gym. Within 4 months I had gained 3 stone, of mostly muscle (more on this later). However different things work for different people.
Whatever your fitness goals are, be itweight loss, strength improvements or bulking up, there are many different workout plans available to someone willing to stick to a programme. Weights, Cardio, Aerobics etc.
Since then I've spent years researching and testing techniques that will allow me to continue to see positive results with as little time spent exercising as possible (allowing for some kind of social life), and I've decided to share the fruits of my labours through a series of articles to be posted here on helium. This first article will be a brief overview of some basic first steps on the road to fitness.
"I WANT TO GET IN SHAPE BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START."
Like so many, I first went to a gym and had no idea where to start, so I just casually threw around a couple of weights and went for a jog on the treadmillbetter than nothing, but by far a productive use of exercise time. So where do we start?
Motivation is key. Right now, the idea of sticking to a regular exercise plan might seem unattainable, but once you get into a groove and start seeing results, you'll be amazed at how dedicated and disciplined you've become. Set an attainable goal, and keep it in mind. Decide on exactly what you want to achieve.Lose weight, gain muscle, get fitter, fasterwhatever. If you can set the goal and are willing to work at it, you can get there.
Another great motivational tool is to find a like minded workout partner. Ideally someone with similar goals to you, but this isn't essential. Just finding someoneanyonewilling to go to the gym is hard enough as it is. A workout buddy is great for helping you to push yourself further and compare results and techniques with.
The next thing that anyone looking to improve their fitness should be to make sure that diet is in order. By diet I don't mean cabbage soup 3 times a day. A balanced diet is essential but that's a whole other article that I'll try to post sometime soon. For now let's focus on some basic exercise techniques.
RESISTANCE TRAINING (akaWeight training): Many people seem to think that weight lifting is only for people who aim to bulk up, and whilst this is the preferred method for bulking, it can also be beneficial for those looking tolose weight since building muscle burns fat and boosts your metabolism. If you've never lifted weights before, start light. Even better, just use your own bodyweight. Possible down side being that you have to work pretty hard for best results.
RUNNING It's a classic and for good reason. We've all run for one reason or another in our lives, it's a great way to improve fitness and lose weight and can be done virtually anywhere with little to no equipment. And believe it or not you can even vary your running style. Some go for long distance jogging whereas others prefer short sharp sprints. Both have their benefits and will be addressed in a later article (stay tuned pavement jockeys).
SWIMMING After I left school I hardly ever visited the swimming pool, but swimming is a great fitness related activity. Working pretty much your entire body, it's another exercise where you can work to your current fitness level and aim to improve. Again, start small, couple of lengths perhaps, and build on that each visit to the pool. Alot of people tend to feel a bit too self conscious to hit a public swimming pool, and this is understandable, but remember, we're all in the same boat (so to speak). Perhaps you could find a time that the pool isn't so busy, like early mornings for example.
Ok, so there's our starting point. We have a goal in mind and by now we should have an idea of which type of exercises will best suit us. And remember that we can always mix exercises together, such as weights one day, swimming the next for example. Find what works for you, find out what you enjoy most and what get's the best results.
One more VERY IMPORTANT thing to note is thisREST. Your body needs time to recover, so make sure you have at least 2 full days a week off to rest and recover. Also ifweight loss is your goal don't go starving yourself. Your body needs fuel to repair itself (again, a later article). Just eat sensibly and all the best in attaining your goals.
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