Tips for Exercising the Right Way
By Sara Butler
If you’ve decided that you want to start a new fitness routine, then good for you! Getting up and getting your body moving is a very important step to take in order to improve your overall health and wellness. The problem is that many people try to do too much out of the gate when they decide to start exercising again. The gung-ho attitude is great, but it also makes it more difficult to stick with a new exercise program in the long run. Here are a few tips to help you start exercising right.
Discuss a New Program with a Healthcare Professional
Whether it’s a physician or a chiropractor, it’s important to discuss your plans with someone who knows your medical history, especially if you’re on medications for health conditions. Also, it’s important to check and see if you’re healthy enough to begin a new exercise activity, especially if it’s been a while since you worked out.
Start Slow
You’re a stone rolling down a hill! You need to start slow and then gain momentum as you roll along on your fitness journey. A great way to kick off a new fitness routine is to devote just five minutes the first day to doing something active, then adding a minute each day until you work up to 30 minutes total.
Build Endurance
Work on your endurance by undertaking aerobic activities when you’re ready. Walking, cycling, dancing, and jogging are some great aerobic activities you can try. If you struggle with joint pain, then try a low impact aerobic activity such as water aerobics or water running. The point of the exercise is to get your heart rate up into its target range. To figure out your ideal range, subtract your age from 220 and then multiply that number by 65 and 85 percent.
Strength Train
Aerobic exercise is important, but so is strength training. After you have done some aerobics to get your heart pumping, try to work in some low weight reps. Start with a weight you can do easily for 20 reps without stopping and then increase the number of reps slowly over each session until you reach 40 reps at that weight without stopping. Then you can increase your weight and start the process all over again.
Don’t Forget to Stretch!
Stretching will help you avoid injury and stay healthy, so remember to stretch gently after exercise. Let your chiropractor show you some easy stretches to get you started!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.