Get Moving In The Morning

A  little walk in the morning or even just a few stretching exercises will get you limbered up and your metabolism moving. It will also get your insides active to move some of yesterdays food through your system faster. So get up and get going. (In every way.)

TODAY: START THE DAY WITH SOME EXERCISE. ANY EXERCISE WILL DO!

What’s Aerobic Exercise Anyway?

I know I’ve told you that you need aerobic exercise, but you may wonder what that really is. Well, aerobic exercise is when you do something at a faster rate than you normally do it. Like walking. Just strolling down the street is good for you. Doing it up and back and fast enough that your heart and lungs have to speed up to give you the needed oxygen and blood makes it aerobic.

The result of aerobic exercise is decreased cholesterol levels and blood pressure, more muscle tone and ultimately reduced body fat. It makes your whole body better, heart, lungs and even stronger bones. You’ll breathe easier and be much healthier.

TODAY: DO SOME AEROBIC EXERCISE.

So What’s Anaerobic Exercise?

I told you about aerobic exercise the other day. You also hear about anaerobic exercise. Anaerobic exercise might actually be a goal for your health if you are so inclined or physically fit.

Anaerobic exercise is exercise at a more difficult pace. You’re going all-out. Races are a good example, but it can also include weight lifting, jumping rope, and sports. All the things that would leave you really winded when you finish. If you get really fit it can be a real reward. You get that “runners high”. But if you’re not fit you get aches, pains and maybe worse. Don’t do it without a doctor saying you can. I’m just nagging you to exercise for general health and fitness and to burn calories to reach your goal, not to go for the gold.

Here’s a quick way to tell if you’re doing too much, too fast. You should be able to talk when you’re exercising. Just don’t talk about eating.

TODAY: TAKE A GOOD LONG AEROBIC WALK.

Get Started Slowly

You may have started an exercise program before and gone at it gangbusters on the first day. Then you were so sore that you waited to recover a day or so later and never went back to exercising. It happens all the time. I think it’s part of how the health clubs stay in business. (They need more members than people who actually use the facilities.)

There is a reason that a few years ago (sarcasm) you started with “baby steps”. An how you should start back at exercising now. With time strength, endurance, and fitness will return. Challenge your body by exercising just outside your comfort zone. When it’s no longer a challenge, do a little more or do it a little harder, faster or longer. That saying, “po pain, no gain” is not a benefit if it keeps you form staying with the exercise program.

But to borrow a famous bit of advertising… Just Do It!

TODAY: TAKE BABY STEPS, OR MORE STEPS.

There Are Worse Things Than Eating Less & Exercise

This ad from the early the early 1900s shows that we’ve always looked for the easy way out. But eating tapeworms?! I think you’ll agree that you can’t wriggle out of eating less and exercising more.

TODAY: TAKE A WALK AFTER EACH MEAL.

Exercise Today Get Two Days Free

They have now found that the benefits of any aerobic exercise lasts for an amazing 72 hours! It turns out that studies show that it helps your glucose levels and gets your metabolism revved up for three full days. Don’t get it in your mind that you can just skip a couple of days. But it means that if your schedule only gives you three days a week to ride your bike, run,  fast walk, do a stepper, etc. you will be in much better shape but if you do more than that you’ll see more results. It also explains why on your day off you still feel better and feel better about yourself.

TODAY: WORK UP A SWEAT.

The Steps Add Up To Better Health

Yesterday I told you to dig out that pedometer you have. I know one is around your house somewhere. McDonald’s even gave them away just a few months ago. The reason to use the pedometer is to find out how much you usually move around each day just doing what you normally do. They say that we take an average of 5,000 steps. I think that’s a bit low. Or maybe the average person is really sedentary. It may be revealing for you to find out this benchmark for exercise.

The next goal is to simply step it up. Add 1,000 steps to your total. Then the next day add some more. You get the idea. Think of the little device as giving your fitness a treat. Maybe you could call it a “peds dispenser”.

TODAY: TAKE MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE NUMBER OF STEPS.