Whatever your reasons you are to be commended, but how exactly does one go about getting into shape. Well here are a few suggestions to improve your fitness health and lifestyle. With each suggestion there are pros and cons, some will work for some people and some will not, try and decide what fits you and your circumstances best.
Join A Gym – This is a pretty obvious place to start. At a gym you have a variety of methods of getting fit, whether it's aerobically or based on toning muscle you will find this a great place to start. At a gym you can get the help of a professional who will guide your fitness while keeping them well trained eyes on your progress. However, while a gym is a great way to get fit, it's also very expensive and can be time consuming!
Running – A great way to get fit and basically free! If you want to take up running a word of caution, running can cause injury. You must follow routines and have good quality foot wear. Running on tarmac is usually more convenient but it can damage your knees, so where possible try to run on grass or even better on a beach if this is an option. When you start off running, start slowly and build up the distances over the weeks. Start by slowly jogging for 5 minutes, as your fitness increases you can run further and at a faster pace. Do not push yourself to hard as this will lead to injury. Experts recommend doing a full run on day one, day two run half the distance at a slower pace, this relaxes the muscles and lessens the chances on injury. Then on day three rest. You can then start the cycle over. This is a great way to improve fitness and it will really enhance your endurance.
Swimming – Possibly the best way to get fit! Swimming tones all of your body and gives all your muscles an excellent work out. The great advantage of swimming is that it's almost impossible to injure yourself. Many people swim to recover from injury and this can be a great way to build up worn down muscles. Similar to running, do not over do it and take a day to rest up on a regular basis so not to exhaust your muscles. Again start slow and build up distances as you increase your level of fitness. The only real disadvantage of swimming is that you need somewhere to do it, some people may not have a nearby pool so this could be an issue. Otherwise swimming is a great fitness booster.
Aerobics – Something that is not as popular as it once was, but is still a really good way to get fit. Whether you join a class or do it in the privacy of your own home, this is a great way to get fit. It's a low impact activity so again the danger of injury is minimal. Buying DVD's to watch and follow fitness programs is very helpful and can really improve muscle tone and general fitness. The only possible downside to aerobics is that if you want to be super fit it tends to be limited. You will probably have to do something else as well to take your fitness to a higher level.
Cycling – Another great low impact activity that really can get you super fit. After purchasing a bike it's pretty much free and as you increase the distances you cycle you can travel round some interesting places which makes it an enjoyable activity. The risk of injury is low, unless you fall off, then this can be a real danger. But if you ride sensibly and surely you should not have any problems and you will find cycling a wonderful way to boost fitness levels.
Sports – This is one that many people take up. Some people find running or swimming boring as it can just be you on your own. They need the thrill of competitive games to excite them. Playing sport on a regular basis is a great way to get fit. Depending on the sport though there is usually a higher risk of injury. Some sports are obviously better than others for building fitness, but if you enjoy your sport you are more likely to keep it up and enhance you condition.
Changing Life Styles – Sometimes it can simply be walking places you might usually drive. Cycle to work instead of taking the bus. Just making more effort to get out and walk is something that is very simple but can really help you boost your fitness. Obviously walking a mile a day is not going to get you super fit but it's a great place to start.
The Little Things – Most of the ways I have mentioned representative changes in your life and putting forward lots of effort. But there are simple things you can do that will improve your fitness. Do not walk up the stairs, run! Dance while making your morning coffee. Do a few star jumps while cooking your dinner. Just be more active in everything you do. If you work at a desk, tap your feet for a while, any kind of movement will increase your level of fitness, even if it's only a small amount it all helps.
So there is a list of a few ideas. There are plenty of other things you can try but these tend to be the best and most accessible options for most people. You may find that some of the suggestions are not for you but somewhere in there most people will find something that suits them. Another excellent suggestions is mix and match. Run one day, swim another, walk to work another, a combination of activities is excellent as it will get more of your muscles working and being more interesting. Whatever you decide I wish you well in your pursuit of fitness. Building your fitness even if only slowly will lead to you feeling more confident in yourself, better health and a feeling of achievement! So it's well worth making that decision and getting yourself fit.