Discover Your Blueprint to a Healthy Life

One remark that I always get is: “You look good for your age.” That is always followed up with a question: “What’s your secret to looking young?” Well, my secret does not come in the form of an elixir; in fact it is widely-known and practiced all round the world: exercising.

Nourishing Your Mind Through Exercising

Since young, I have always had a passion for sports. Any opportunity I got, I would be out there pitching on the field. Exercising regularly has more benefits than sculpting an attractive body; it helps you become the person you want to be. It is through exercising that I

  • Know I can achieve what I want
  • Build my confidence level
  • Enjoy success in all aspects of life
  • Channel others’ negativity into a trigger to achieve something productive
  • Count myself among the ranks of an elite group of Americans who exercise every day

Jumping Through Hoops

Of course, setting aside time for exercise when you have to work (which incidentally hastens the aging process: just watch as the strands of gray hair sprout with every new deadline), is a challenge. However, there are several ways around it. Instead of driving to work, walk to your office every morning! Taking 10,000 steps a day can significantly reduce the risk of a cardiovascular disease!

If you are constantly pressed for time and always knock off work after the gym’s opening hours, then purchase a set of “dumbbells”. This way you can do your strength training exercises in the comfort of your own home. With dumbbells, you can also work the different muscle groups, compared to the limitations of the machines at the gym.

While I may ‘look good for my age,’ I certainly am not getting younger. While I am not discouraged, I am very mindful of my limits. I cannot train as hard as I used to. If you are in the same boat as I am, I would advise you to regularly seek medical advice from your physician. Go for a yearly checkup and speak to your doctor about your medical conditions. Then, plan your exercise routine while keeping in mind your health status.<

A Lifelong Commitment Requires Motivation

Committing to the ideologies of healthy living takes work and also motivation. There are two forms of motivation:

1. Intrinsic motivation is the enjoyment you derive when you sweat it all out; this is when exercising is second nature to you.

2. Extrinsic motivation is when you work out in the hope of getting something out of it – be it a trim physique or monetary incentives from competitions.

Whether you are young or old, there are days when you just do not have the motivation. Here are some tips to keep yourself motivated all year long:

  • Wear comfortable sportswear when exercising
  • Prevent injuries by equipping yourself with the right safety gear
  • You enjoy the sport or workout more when you can do it better, so acquire the right techniques to advance your skills
  • Don’t let your routines become dull; change it up!

If you are about to embark on an exercising journey, you can reap a lot of benefits with a personal trainer at your side. Their knowledge and expertise will help you achieve your goals more efficiently. However, there are many errant trainers on the loose, so always check that your trainer is registered with agencies such as ACE, AFAA, ACSM or NSCA. Check that your trainer has attended first aid and CPR courses as well.

Combat Stress!

Stress is part and parcel of our lives, but undue stress can be detrimental to your mental health. When you exercise, you trigger the release of endorphins — the happy chemicals in your brain. This is why you often feel positively about yourself after a good workout. Before a workout, you can also do simple inhaling exercises to keep your mind focused. With every exhale, let out your stress and think positive thoughts when you breathe in.

Three Components of Exercise

Exercising brings about many benefits, but when not done correctly, it can do more harm than good. Very often, the cause of many injuries can be attributed to neglecting to warm up and cool down properly.

Why? As you warm up, blood and oxygen flow to the different muscles you are activating. Your muscles are prepared for what’s to come. When you do your proper warm up, you are less prone to muscle cramps and spasms. Warming up comprises a series of simple exercises: you can get your heart pumping with a slow and short jog, followed by some light stretching.

The day after an intensive workout can be likened to a hangover: just sheer misery. To avoid this, always do a proper cool down. You might have unknowingly damaged your fibers or ligaments while exercising, and a cool down helps to repair them. Stretching your muscles after exercising will help speed up the recovery process.

Diet is What Counts

Even a huge amount of exercising will not do you any good if you are bent on ingesting junk food every day. There is no need to phase out junk food entirely; in fact, allow yourself one day a week to indulge in moderation. This way, you satisfy your cravings and you do not risk falling prey to binge-eating, which deals a lot of damage.

A good diet is a well-balanced meal that has carbohydrates, protein and fat. You can also take in vitamins and minerals to strengthen your constitution. After a hard workout, you will need to replenish your body’s glycogen, which gives you the energy to do stuff. Have a sports drink or even chocolate milk to recharge. Finally, drinking plenty of water throughout the day is critical. This will help you to remove the toxins in your body.

Author’s Bio

Derek Carroll loves it when he finds great deals and products. What he loves even more is getting to share them. He recently did reviews of P90x DVDs, and Bowflex dumbbells, on his blog at Wise-Buyers.com. Offline, he spends most of his time with his wife and two children, as they go on new adventures and explore the finer things in life.