Fitness Goals to Work Toward
By Sara Butler
For many people, success at getting healthy is decided on a scale. While achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important to your overall health and wellness, the number on the scale isn't the only factor you should consider. In fact, there are many fitness goals you should work toward that have nothing to do with the scale at all. Here are a few you should consider shifting your focus to.
Increase Endurance
Cardiovascular endurance is a good goal to work toward for your health. When you improve this aspect of the way your body functions, then your body can use oxygen more efficiently.
To track how your cardiovascular endurance is improving through exercise, you should get a heart rate monitor and use it to chart your progress. You will notice over time that your heart rate isn't increasing as much during exercise -- and that can be a sign that it's time to kick your workout up a notch.
Improve Your Strength
Weight training is essential to building a strong body and getting healthy. It's also a pretty easy measure to gauge to know if you're improving. Can you do more repetitions of weightlifting exercises? Lift heavier weights? These are all good signs that what you're doing is working, as weight-bearing exercise gets easier for you.
More Energy
A good workout can leave you feeling tired and fatigued, but only temporarily. Overall, working out on a regular basis only helps to improve your energy levels. Studies have shown that those who work out regularly have less fatigue than those that have more sedentary lifestyles. No matter your weight, that little extra pep in your step from exercise is a very good sign and a good thing for your health.
Reduced Blood Pressure
Another indicator that your healthy lifestyle changes are catching up with you is lower blood pressure. Studies have found that exercise helps to reduce blood pressure overall, maybe even as effectively as blood pressure medications. Slap on a blood pressure cup and regularly check your pressure to see where you're at and if you're making any progress.
Better Sleep
Regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle also help to improve your sleep -- something else you need in order for your body to work optimally and help you make it through each day. With regular exercise, you'll notice you fall asleep easier and faster. While your asleep, the quality of your sleep is likely to improve as well.
Being healthy is about more than the number on the scale.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Houston, Tex.