#1 Do it to it My triathlon training partners in Lubbock and I always had an abbreviated saying of "do it to it." It basically means, get up, get moving, meet your next goal/challenge/time. For you, it might be to be able to walk a mile. It might be able to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to start the day with natural energy. It might be to run an Ironman. Whatever your goal might be, it all starts as soon as YOU choose to get going. The hardest and best part of anything related to fitness is that first step. When a thought translates into motivation and leads to the first step to "do it to it." Here are some easy ways to start your transition to becoming a healthier person:
Take the stairs.
Avoid the elevator regardless of what floor your office is located.
Ride a bike to work (weather and safety permitting)
Take your kids for a walk in the park.
If you don't have kids, take your dog.
If you don't have a dog, take a stroll around the neighborhood.
The best time is always the hour before dusk.
Go throw the football with friends.
Play tag with your children.
Go for a jog. At first, don't time yourself. Just go. Remember what it is like to just run. Go until you can't run. Then walk.
During breaks at work, stretch. Stretch your arms, back, legs.
Go play basketball at the nearest gym/park/school.
These are just a small number of activities that you can do to get your heart rate elevated. We will talk about heart rate at a later time. For now, just do something that will get blood pumping again! At first, if you haven't done any physical activity in a long time, go slow. Let your body adjust to whatever goal you are trying to accomplish. Most of all, when you are starting out, find a goal or motivation. It could be to fit back into jeans you wore 5 years ago that are still in the closet. It could be to be a role model for your children as they grow. It could be to feel better about yourself and gain self confidence. Whatever it is, start doing something and keep that close to you as you progress! This is just the start of a series that I will write on a weekly basis. We will look at diet, exercising, goal making and any/everything that pertains to physical activity. And as always remember, "The journey is better than the end" - Cervantes.
Good luck on your first step to becoming a healthier you! -Colin McElroy
Before starting any exercise, diet or health routine, first consult your physician to make sure that your body is healthy enough for physical activity.
LA Times http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/03/news/la-heb-worldwide-obesity-20110203
BMI http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/