Everybody wants to be healthy and look good in the mirror. Whether you are young or old, man or woman, being in shape is something we all aspire to achieve.
If you are not sure where to begin, here are a few tips you could try.
Community Sporting Events
Few things are better than doing physical exercise with other people in your community. There are several reasons for this. First, you can build camaraderie with your neighbors. Second, you can depend on each other. If you feel unmotivated one day, another member can pick you up and offer a few words of encouragement. If someone else doesn’t have the energy to work out, you can do the same. Finally, it is more fun. And when things are fun, there is a much higher probability that you will do them.
But what kind of community sporting events can you take part in? There are many to choose from. For example, if your home or neighborhood has a tennis court that nobody has used in a while, you can all chip in and hire the services of court maintenance and resurfacing provider, get it fixed, and organize a local tournament.
Another great idea is to arrange a sports weekend event or competition between households. It is a wonderful chance for families to get together, exercise with one another, and build important relationships and networks with other people in the community.
Signing Up For a Race
The Ironman Triathlon will test how strong you really are, both physically and mentally. It comprises a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a full marathon. A world champion with over a decade of experience will be able to finish it in under 10 hours.
Of course, this isn’t the kind of race we are talking about, at least not at the beginning. Trying to attempt such a high-end, strenuous endeavor is unrealistic and harmful to your body and state of mind.
But there are others. For instance, you could sign up for a five-kilometer race or a sprint triathlon, which is only 400 meters swimming, 10 kilometers on your bike, and a 2.5-kilometer run. The important thing is not the event itself but rather the journey to get there.
Let us imagine you have made up your mind and decided to take part in a short race in two months. If you are serious about it, you will change the way you eat, drop the bad habits, and engage in a proper exercise routine.
At first, it might be challenging to do, but as the days go by and you see the progress you are making, your level of motivation will increase. So will your physical condition and mental fortitude.
The best thing about signing up for a future race is having a deadline to keep you accountable, a specific date to push yourself on rainy days, or make you get up and run when all you want to do is sleep.
Learning Something New
More often than not, people get excited about new things and experiences in their lives. A little boy with a new Superman action figure will discard the older ones in a heartbeat. A man with a new car will drive constantly for the first few days or weeks and show it to all his friends.
The same goes for exercise. If you haven’t done it in a while or don’t like it, the best thing to do is start something fresh, something you might have never heard about before. It could be enrolling in a martial arts or boxing class. You could try joining a dance or Zumba studio. A third option could be to take up active meditation, yoga, or Pilates.
At the beginning stages of any exercise routine, the important thing is not how many calories you burn or how much muscle you build. Instead, what matters at first is that you enjoy yourself in the company of like-minded people, you move a bit, and you break a sweat.
Once you get a feeling for the new activity, you can start going at a higher intensity level. It is always best to consult a doctor or physical therapist before embarking on a new fitness program. The last thing you want is to get injured and ruin the entire process.
Getting fit is a personal decision you have to make. No matter how others try to influence you positively, if you do not want to take the first step, it is pointless.
Yet, there are tools at your disposal. You could involve your community members in physical fitness events, sign up for an upcoming beginners race, or enroll in a new class.
By doing this, you will be much a healthier, fitter person before you even know it.
