GoodHealthMD.com

GoodHealthMD.com


Healthy Goal: Regular Exercise



Busy lives, stressful schedules, poor diets, restless sleep, not enough down-time, lack of energy. Sound familiar? With all there is to do in life, something has got to give. Make sure it's not your fitness regime.

It's challenging to make time to work out, but the long- and short-term health benefits more than make up for the effort. Here are some tips to help you get (and stay) on track.

Start small. We've all heard the advice to park farther away or take the stairs, because it works. Set a goal to take the stairs at work every other day.

Pace yourself at the gym. Everyone is there for the same reason, so don't be ashamed if you're going more slowly. Use light weights for strength training; limit yourself to 2-10 minutes on the stationary bike when you first start out. You'll find that your stamina will quickly improve. Take care of yourself. Wear the proper footwear, removable layers of light clothing, and drink more water than you think you need to avoid dehydration. Get encouragement. Join an exercise class, hire a personal