Exercise is a great health benefit and can help you lose some of the extra weight that seems to have clung to you and won’t let go. If you are a beginning athlete, it may be tempting to go all out from the start.
You could do more harm than good. Here are some tips to keep in mind when starting an exercise program:
You should always start light and slow and increase resistance for more strenuous exercise regimens. Even bodybuilders start with lighter weights instead of jumping into 500-pound lifts when they’ve never done it before.
Start with something easy, like walking. Walk a short distance or only for a short period of time at first. When you feel like your body is doing well at this pace, increase the distance or time a bit and keep building momentum.
When you’ve walked well, consider adding another exercise to your routine. Adding a little at a time can make it easier on your body, but it also helps prevent boredom.
Before starting your exercise routine for the day, always stretch your muscles first. Without stretching, you increase the risk of sprains or muscle strains. The muscles you will use must be ready for the training they will receive.
If they don’t warm up and you suffer from muscle tension, it will cost you several days of exercise and you will have to start over from scratch. It’s also important to do some stretching exercises to cool down once you’ve completed your routine for the day. This helps you relax your muscles after a good workout so they work properly for your other daily activities and don’t feel as sore.
Once you add a few different types of exercises to your routine, you can modify the days you do them or combine them in different orders to beat the boredom. If you walk and ride a stationary bike every day, you will soon get bored and then skip days until you no longer exercise.
Consider exercising with a friend or family member. It’s always helpful to have someone to chat with to pass the time while you exercise and it gives you someone to help you stay focused and on track. Exercising with a friend helps you keep the promise you made to yourself that you would never give up.