When was the last time you did some proper exercise? Not just running for the bus or taking a short walk with your dog, some real activity that got you sweating and your heart pumping? For so many, the answer will be ‘a long time ago’ or ‘I can’t even remember.’ And honestly, it’s so easy for this to happen- we lead busy lives, we have tons of commitments to fulfil and the things we need to do in life are time consuming and tiring. However, while it might be common to lead a sedentary life, it really is SO bad for you. It can lead to all kinds of short and long term health problems which will continue to get worse over time. From weakened muscles and bones to aches and pains, reduced immunity, inability to sleep well, weight gain (and all of the chronic illnesses that come along with obesity) and so much more.
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Starting a new regime when you’ve been out of the fitness game for a while can be tough, it might have been years since you did any proper activity. But even if you can’t climb the stairs or walk down the street without getting out of breath, know that it’s completely possible to change your ways. Some hard work and dedication, and you’ll look back in six or twelve months time and not even recognise yourself. Here are some tips for getting started.
Purchase some exercise clothes
First things first, if you’ve not worked out in a while you probably don’t have anything suitable to wear. Purchase some workout clothes that are flattering and you feel comfortable in, you don’t need to spend a fortune but something you can wear while practicing your sport or going to the gym is essential.
Find activities you can do
Finding activities you enjoy is key to maintaining your new routine. If you’re incredibly unfit then anything you do is going to feel horrible and like hard work at first, but if you stick it out you really will start to enjoy it. Chances are you won’t be able to hop on a treadmill and start running right away, so start small and build it up. Begin with walking, and pick up the pace until over time you’re able to do a light jog. Get onto an exercise bike, and start with the lowest resistance setting and cycle for forty minutes, gradually increasing the intensity. You could go swimming or do other light activities until you’ve built up that foundation of fitness. It’s important not to go too hard too soon, or you’ll injure yourself and be stuck in physiotherapy for months. But once you find that you’re able to do more, you can push yourself until you’re really feeling the burn.
Set a routine
Once you know what you’re doing and are happy with your activity, you need to stick it out. Even if you can do hardly anything now where your fitness is low, exercise three times a week– and within a few months you’ll have reached this stage. You’ll find you can move around much more easily without getting breathless and tired which can make things much easier in your everyday life. Those first few months can be hard, but once you have that basic level of fitness you’ll never want to go back.
