5 Ways to Stay Fit this Fall
Being physically active is very important in maintaining one’s overall health. However, according to the World Health Organization 1 in 4 adults is not active enough. This is detrimental, as there are many benefits to staying fit like having improved heart health, having more energy/an energy boost, getting better quality sleep, reducing or maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the incidence of lifestyle disease like diabetes and high blood pressure, and much more.
Exercise also releases endorphins, which improve your mood and reduces depression and anxiety. Another great reason to stay fit is that being physically active reduces your risk of cancer. It also reduces the risk of falls as you age. This is great because as we age, our muscles tend to get weaker, especially in our legs. This can make you prone to falls and injuring yourself. Lastly, staying fit is a great way to connect with nature. Going on walks in the park or on the beach allow you to connect with nature as well as to relax. The recommended amount of exercise is 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity.
Ways to Jumpstart Your Fitness
Now that we’ve talked about the benefits of staying physically active, here are some ways you can jumpstart your fitness.
- Get an accountability partner: An accountability partner will be there to support you as well as encourage you to stay on track. It will be harder to not show up if someone is there waiting on you.
- Start making the preparations: Get the things you need such as new shoes or new workout outfits. Just get started.
- Work with a health coach. A health coach is someone that helps you to map out how you would like to tackle your different health issues. They will be there to support and guide you on your journey. They can also act as an accountability partner as they help you to set your agenda and make a priority list of what you must do.
Ways to Stay Fit This Fall
In case you are at a loss for how to get started, here are a few ideas to get you going:
- Do yoga. Yoga is a great way to improve strength and flexibility. It will keep you in shape while also allowing you to relax. So you may get the added benefit of stress management.
- Take a walk. Taking a walk is a great way to ease yourself into doing more physical activity. You can start by talking short 20–30-minute walks each day. This will help you to meet your activity goals while improving your cardiovascular health.
- Resistance training. Resistance training builds muscle and improves overall fitness. You can try resistance bands, free weights, bodyweight exercises, or weight machines.⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Engage in virtual workouts- virtual workouts have become even more popular with the rise of the pandemic. Find an exercise type that works for you, like aerobic dance or maybe a mix of low/high-impact classes.
- Ride a regular or stationary bike. Bike riding is a great exercise that is not too harsh on the joints of the legs. You can enjoy a scenic bike ride, or you can buy a stationary bike for your home.
Fitness is important because it improves our quality of life and keeps us healthy and happy. It also reduces the risk of getting many chronic ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure. Hopefully you can find the inspiration to maintain your health and improve your level of physical activity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
