Fitness For Life

By Author: Andy Henson
Total Articles: 2
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Getting fit for life

There's no doubt that getting fit is hard to do, but there are
many benefits and I think that the effort is well worth it. In
order to get fitter you have to do some sort of physical activity
which is above your normal everyday work load, this can be very
tiring at first but I can guarantee that after a reasonable length
of time this additional effort will become part of your daily
work load and actually make your normal daily work seem less effort
and less tiring, As you incorporate a physical activity into your
weekly routine you apply additional stress to your body and this
will initially make you more tired than normal but as you continue
to exercise your body will adapt and become used to the additional
work load.
As your body adapts your cardiovascular system becomes more efficient,
...
... your muscles become stronger, your VO2 take up improves and resting
heart rate decreases, not to mention the benefits of serotonin
released during exercise and the weight loss.
Types of activity
Which type of exercise you choose can depend on your age, physical
ability, gender and personal preference. Even if you have a disability
there is an activity which will help you to improve your fitness.
When considering which activity to take up you should consider
if you want indoor or outdoor activities, are you a social person
or happier with your own company. If your an outdoor type then
you may consider cycling, walking, running.
For the social type then joining a team or a club may help spur
you on. If your not an outdoor type then there are also many indoor
sports or joining a gym may be right for you and finally if your
not comfortable in exercising in form of other then a home gym
or home exercise equipment like deluxe
treadmills or exercise
bikes. Which ever option is right for you be realistic and
buying expensive equipment doesn't get you fit, using it does.

Getting started
So you've chosen your activity, you got your equipment, kit or gym
membership and your ready to go. Don't get too carried away too
soon as you must remember that getting fit for life is a long
term life style change, so it must fit into your life and be sustainable
over time not just a few weeks. Set your short and long term goals,
be realistic, set your schedule that fits into your life and not
change your whole life to fit around your exercise as this will
not work long term. For good general health
and fitness you should aim for completing 30-40 minutes of
exercise 2 to 3 times per week but don't worry if you and only
manage once a week on some weeks or can only manage twenty minutes
but try for 30-40 minutes at a moderate level of effort as this
will take you into the fat burning aerobic exercise zone which
will give you the best benefit for the level of perceived effort
and time. Good luck getting started with your new healthy lifestyle
and remember that if its not going to last more than a month then
its not worth the additional effort as the benefits probably won't
start to take effect until after a month, your asking your body
to adapt and change, this doesn't happen over night.