Exercise Routines for Beginners
By Stephen R. Farris
For those of us who have reached life's double-nickel -- 55, just in case you forgot - think back to when we were in school and it was required that we participated in a physical education class. Heck, a lot of us were just starting to experiment with deodorant and it was common at that time to just put your street clothes back on after finishing up gym class. Meaning, no time for a shower because it might make us late to class. Therefore, we probably started smelling pretty ripe by mid-afternoon, with or without deodorant.
I also remember there were a number of kids who simply refused to participate in gym class. Sometimes I thought to myself, "Man, why can't I get a break like them." However, I'm kind of glad I didn't. Why, you might ask? I loved playing baseball and softball, and basketball as well. The latter two sports I played up until about 10 years ago. More importantly, I had fun doing it!
Sure, I knew how to exercise but things were a little different back then and we didn't know all of the things we do nowadays about our health and the overall benefits of working out. So after a 10-year drought -- and a little extra poundage added on -- it's probably time to get back to the basics. Kind of like starting over I guess, but not sure where to start. So here we go, learning to exercise again.
Where to Start
First, I highly recommend that you check with your doctor or chiropractor to make sure you're healthy enough to begin an exercise routine. Next, there are plenty of choices to choose from when it comes to exercising for beginners. There are aerobic classes, which offer basics for first timers so they can become accustomed to the movements before advancing to another level. The same goes for those boot camps that seem to be popular these days. Lifting weights is another option. You can start off light and as you gain strength, add a few more pounds to the bar. Then there's the tried and true, plain old everyday calisthenics. No gym equipment needed, just you and your body doing anything from sit-ups to lunges and planks to name a few of the things you can do at home or outdoors.
Set Goals
There's nothing more frustrating than beginning something new and not having a clue of what you're going to do or how to do it. Like a lot of things in life, you need to have a plan, set realistic goals and make working out a habit, just like putting on pants and a shirt in the morning.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Clarksville, Tenn.