Realistic Fitness
We are constantly bombarded by images of what we are “supposed to do” to be fit and healthy. Eat this, don’t eat that, shed the cellulite with this amazing machine, and sculpt your abs with a waist belt that does the work for you. The truth is, your body is hardwired for health and has a natural desire to move. Stress, overbooked schedules, lack of sleep and poor nutrition can keep you from feeling what type of movement is realistic for your body.
If you have been out of a movement program for some length of time, you need to start back slowly. We tend to end the year thinking of all the things – including fitness – which we didn’t do and then start the year with high hopes and expectations – huge goals and unrealistic weight loss ideas. The truth is, once you get real, everything else falls into place.
Start by creating a list of all the movement and physical activities you have done or would like to do. Be sure and stretch the list a bit! The more possibilities you write down, the more exciting and realistic your active lifestyle will be. Remember... all movement counts!
Step I – List all activities. Categories can include outdoor sports, indoor sports, fitness classes and dance classes, martial arts including yoga and tai chi, aerobic activities, group activities like bowling, stretch activities and “edgier” activities like the flying trapeze. Let your mind (and body) create an abundant list of movement possibilities!
Step II – Rate them from 1-5. One means a high interest in the activity, 5 means you have little interest in actually making that happen. Put your high rated activities at the top of the list and post in a prominent place.
Step III – Listen to your body each day. Does it feel like stretching? Try some yoga. Did you wake up feeling you could take on the world? Try a brisk morning walk. Do you feel stressed at the end of the day? Try a swim with fluid motions and buoyancy to wash the stress away. Feel like socializing with friends or family? Try a group activity like bowling.
