A Beginner's Guide to Working Out
By Sara Butler
You’ve managed to master that couch sitting pretty well, so maybe it’s time to embark on a new adventure to master another skill – like exercise! You will start to see the benefits to exercise almost immediately after you begin, improving your overall health and wellness. If you’re unsure where to start, here are a few tips to get you on the road to better health through exercise.
Why You Should Exercise
Regular exercise has been shown time and again to have a significant impact on your health in a very good way. It helps you to maintain a healthy body weight, reduce your risk of disease, and helps to increase and maintain muscle mass. Research has also shown it to be a great natural mood booster and help you to sleep better at night. Exercise truly has the power to change your life for the better!
How to Get Moving
There are few things you need to do to get yourself on the road to regular exercise. You should:
- Get checked out by a healthcare professional – You need to make sure you’re healthy enough to exercise. This way, you reduce your risk of injury, especially if you are over the age of 45 and starting a new exercise program. Getting a checkup can help detect any underlying issues you may have going on and address them before you get started.
- Set realistic goals – Once you take the plunge and begin to exercise regularly, make your goals attainable. You’re not going to be prepared to run a marathon by next month, so you should make small goals along the way as you work on one much larger goal. This will help you stay motivated and help you to build up to higher levels of fitness as you go.
- Get in the habit – Exercise is all about routine. When you make it a habit, then you’re more likely to actually do it. So, do what you have to do in order to work it into your day and make it just as natural as brushing your teeth every morning.
How Much Should You Exercise?
The recommendation for exercise is 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise. You can do five 30-minute sessions, or you can do three 50-minute sessions if you want. However you arrive at 150 minutes a week is up to you, just make sure you get there. Just make sure you’re slowly raising your intensity level as you go to improve your fitness.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.