Friday, November 19, 2010

Deciding Which Exercise Is Right for You

Deciding Which Exercise Is Right for You

Written By: Linda Bond

What you enjoy doing will help you decide if a walking program is right for you.  Paying membership fees, buying exercise equipment are things most people do not enjoy doing, so these types of things should be factored in to your decision, as well.

Make a list of what you enjoy doing and what you don’t like doing.  Do you like to dance but don’t like to jog?  Do you like to be outdoors more than you like being inside? Do the temperatures outside effect you? 

These are all things to take into consideration. For example; if you choose walking but don’t like to walk in the cool weather, is it really something you are going to stick with every day? If not, try to pick something you can stick with every day and if nothing comes to mind, choose walking and then find an alternative on days when the weather is not nice.

Walking is a good form of exercise as it is something we all do every day.  Anyone can start a walking program at any time; it's usually the intensity and duration that differs.  Walking with a friend or partner is a great way to get out and catch up with your friend and to have someone that will motivate you and vice versa. Walking with a partner will also make time go by faster.

No matter what exercise you choose, you should start at a low level of intensity and build it up over a period of weeks, which will help keep you motivated to continue.  If you start off taking long walks, you could end up with an injury which will hinder your exercise and weight loss efforts.

If you are out of shape, you should start off even slower at about 10 minutes per day.  Slowly increase your pace to an extra 5 minutes every 7 – 10 days.  To make things more exciting, you can try walking a different course every few days.  You can also ask different friends to walk with on certain days of the week.

If walking isn't for you, then you may want to try a fitness center.  They have a wide variety of machines and classes and normally have trainers on hand to answer any questions you may have.  When you choose a fitness center, make sure that they have a good rating and have a clean facility. You also want to see how many people are actually using the facility before you commit to any membership fees. Do your homework; ask around to get other people’s opinions, check to see if the classes they offer work around your schedule, etc.

If the fitness center is not willing to treat you well before you join, then they certainly won't after you join.  You should also make sure that the equipment they use is well taken care of.  It's easy to find out, as all you have to do is listen to the machines.  If they squeak a lot or make noise, then chances are they aren't being taken care of.

If you still aren't sure what you should do, then you can look into golf or tennis.  Both are activities that allow you to get out and socialize and meet new people.  Tennis is great for fitness although it may not be if you are just starting out.  If you haven't exercised in a long time, then golf may be the best activity for you, as it is slow paced and does not require a lot of running around.  Whichever exercise you choose, make sure you have a plan and a fitness goal and stick to it 3-5 days a week. 

For more information about dieting, weight loss and exercising, please visit: http://www.weightlossmadeeazy.com

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