| You don't have to join a gym or buy expensive | | | | 8. Rediscover your local parks. Many of them |
| equipment to improve your health and become | | | | have fitness trails you can follow with |
| more fit. There are many items in your home | | | | recommended exercises, instructions, and goals. |
| that you can use in an effective health and fitness | | | | There's no excuse now. It's all laid out before you. |
| program. The important thing to health and fitness | | | | All you have to do is get in motion. |
| is getting good cardiovascular conditioning, | | | | These are just a few suggestions among a million |
| developing stronger muscles, and building your | | | | things you could do to improve your health and |
| strength and endurance. You can't buy those, but | | | | fitness. Perhaps you've had some ideas of your |
| you can earn them with a regular program that | | | | own as you read the suggestions. Give them a |
| promotes your good health and fitness. Good | | | | try. |
| health and fitness is an important goal if you want | | | | Before you start any new exercise routine, keep |
| a long, happy life. | | | | these tips in mind: |
| If you follow these basic guidelines, you can get all | | | | 9. Never start any exercise at full-tilt. It's |
| the exercise you need to improve your physical | | | | important to warm up and cool down when |
| condition and psychological health. Use them to | | | | you're doing a workout. You can't have perfect |
| come up with your own health and fitness | | | | health and fitness in one day. It's a process. Be |
| program. | | | | patient. Start slow and work into a more vigorous |
| 1. Select an aerobic exercise that's fun for you | | | | routine. And ALWAYS do stretches before and |
| and that you can do indoors or outside. Choose | | | | after your workout. |
| from jogging, hiking, walking, running, playing | | | | 10. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise |
| soccer or tennis, or in-line skating. Cardiovascular | | | | every day. Vary activities so you don't get bored |
| conditioning or aerobic exercises can help you | | | | with one thing. Keep it interesting, but keep doing |
| attain a total body workout, so be sure that, | | | | it no matter what. Great health and fitness is not |
| whatever you do, it's vigorous and sustained. | | | | an over-night proposition. And staying fit and |
| Make sure your heart rate goes up and stays up | | | | healthy is a lifestyle, not a project. |
| for at least 20 minutes. | | | | 11. Make sure you're using the proper clothing and |
| 2. Use exercise videos to learn new exercises and | | | | equipment for the exercise you've chosen. |
| have a leader to follow. There are many | | | | Otherwise, you may injure yourself and delay the |
| interesting and innovative videos on the market | | | | steady progress you hope for. When you dress, |
| today that offer a wide variety of activities, all of | | | | think of the temperature, whether inside or out. If |
| them designed to improve your health and fitness. | | | | you're exercising outside, be sure to wear proper |
| If you can imagine it, someone's made a video to | | | | clothing for the conditions. And if you can't |
| show you how and keep you moving! Much less | | | | exercise outside, you can still pursue your health |
| expensive than a gym or equipment, these videos | | | | and fitness program indoors. |
| give a great workout and some pretty good | | | | 12. Get a friend to join you. The buddy system is |
| entertainment. Examples in addition to programs | | | | very effective for health and fitness programs. It |
| designed for specific parts of the body include | | | | makes exercising more fun and gives you a |
| kick-boxing, body rock, belly dancing, power yoga, | | | | chance for some social time. It also make it more |
| and salsa dancing. | | | | likely that you'll stick to the program in the long |
| 3. Change the way you do things around the | | | | run. You may even spark some healthy |
| house and get a good workout. Instead of using | | | | competition that will improve both of you! |
| your power lawn mower, use a push mower. | | | | 13. Cross train. Change the exercises you do |
| Vacuum the whole house. Shovel snow from your | | | | every day. Change the length of time you do |
| driveway and sidewalks. Carry your laundry | | | | them. Keep some variety in your health and |
| basket or your groceries up and down the stairs | | | | fitness program to prevent boredom and injury. |
| a few times. Wear weights around your ankles | | | | 14. Always consult your health care provider |
| and wrists as you go about your daily routine. | | | | before you start a new health and fitness |
| There are many small ways to improve your | | | | program to be sure your plans support your |
| health and fitness without even noticing it! | | | | unique physical circumstances. That way, you |
| 4. Turn on your favorite dance music and dance. | | | | can't work against your own body. Your health |
| See if you can do ballroom or hip hop. No need to | | | | care provider can recommend exercises that will |
| be embarrassed - no one's watching. Just have | | | | strengthen you where you're weakest without |
| fun. Try some modern dance. This is a great way | | | | creating severe or long-term problems. |
| to get some exercise, improve your health and | | | | 15. Don't stop at exercise. A comprehensive |
| fitness, and relieve stress. | | | | health and fitness program will include a healthy, |
| 5. Organize active social events. Get your friends | | | | well-balanced diet. Reduce the sweets and |
| to join you in a game of touch football. Shoot a | | | | increase the vitamins and minerals. Don't go to the |
| few baskets with the boys. Join a soccer team. | | | | grocery store hungry, and take a well thought-out |
| Get a friend to take dancing lessons with you. | | | | list that includes plenty of variety and delicious |
| Play racquetball. Use exercise as a way to build | | | | meals with you. |
| relationships and have a more active social life. | | | | These suggestions are not hard to follow, but |
| 6. Organize any game activities with your friends. | | | | they do require discipline and commitment if your |
| It can include kickball, football, basketball, soccer, | | | | health and fitness program is to succeed. Good |
| and more. Other activities that promote muscle | | | | health and a well-toned body are within your |
| workouts through body movements are also a | | | | reach. All you have to do is work for them. The |
| good option. | | | | benefits are without value - you'll live a longer, |
| 7. Skip rope with the kids! This is a very | | | | happier, better quality life. |
| inexpensive and fun cardiovascular workout! | | | | |