Summer is in full swing and we hope your exercise routine is in full motion too. This is the perfect time of the year to get your fitness goals in check and now is as good a time as any to take the necessary steps to getting your bod in tip top shape.
Some of you may be figuring out how you are going to lose weight for that upcoming wedding, while the rest of you may have just decided that it is about time you started eating healthier and exercising more. Whatever your reason is, we plan to help you become more serious about achieving your physical fitness goals for 2012.
If you follow the following tips you could be well on your way to staying in shape this summer:
Get fit and take up a new sport: The weather is warmer and the days are longer, so why not add an exciting new outdoor activity or sport to your daily routine. It is always a good idea to start small. Why not buy a pair of walking shoes or dust off your bicycle and explore some uncharted territory in your neighbourhood. Maybe you can even look at taking up a new sport like: ice skating, mountain biking, tennis, surfing (if you are lucky enough to be on the coast) or rock climbing? Once you have found your sporting gear on your local classifieds, all will need to do is get into a good fitness routine.
Join a club and meet new people: When you are super fit you can even look at joining a local running club or a golf club. That way you get a work-out and you meet new people with the same interest all at the same time. If you engage in several different types of sports, exercises, and activities regularly it can only improve your exercise program. It also increases the odds that you will be working different muscle groups that will help to increase your level of physical activity making it easier for your body to burn fat.
Get healthy by eating healthy: Start reading all food labels and become more nutritionally aware of what you are eating. Cut out all junk food, fried foods and simple sugars to help increase your energy levels to make sure that you feel good about your body this summer. Be cautious of products that are high in trans fats and saturated fat. Saturated fats raise your blood cholesterol. There is also a link between diets high in saturated fat and the incidence of certain types of cancer, most notably colon, breast, and prostate cancers.
Gym at home: Getting into an exercise routine is always the biggest challenge. Most of us sign-up for a gym contract but never commit to going to the gym on a regular basis. A good way to combat the excuse of exercising is by buying some gym equipment or a good old reliable health walker and put these exercise machines it in the garage. This limits your excuses for not exercising as you can go for a work-out in your garage at any time of the day.
Drink more water and keep hydrated while exercising: Make it a priority to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. When you drink lots of water, this helps to cleanse and rehydrate your body. Water intake is very important during the hot summer months. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water because thirst is your body’s way of letting you know that you are already starting to dehydrate.
Go for it! When you are at a good fitness rate, why not push your exercise boundaries by signing up for an event or race that you have never participated in before? So what if you don’t finish first or if your time is slow? Setting a new goal for yourself gives you something specific to work toward and leaves you with a sense of accomplishment. You will surprise yourself if you find out how much you can achieve when you set your mind to it.
We hope this post has helped you to stay motivated to reach your exercise goals by forgetting the excuses and creating an exercise routine that works for you! If you are thinking of starting a new sport and want to find some good second hand gym equipment and sports gear, remember to visit www.junkmail.co.za for the best local bargains.
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