Fitness – Page 2

Debunking 3 Common Fitness Myths

March 4, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

The nature of the fitness industry means there is so much information floating about. Everyone has an opinion, and a lot of these opinions are complete and utter bullshit. This means that loads of individuals are following the wrong advice or believing inaccurate things about fitness. So, let’s debunk some of the most common myths!

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MYTH 1: You can target areas of your body to lose fat

How many times have you seen a video or an article that tells you how to lose stubborn belly fat? Loads of people want to lose fat from specific areas of their body. This can be the arms, the legs, the waist, etc. So, you look up exercises that claim to help you do this. Unfortunately, you can’t lose fat from specific areas of your body. If you want to lose belly fat, then you have to enter a caloric deficit that means you burn more calories than you consume. This is what burns fat, and you can’t target a specific area. So, don’t focus on exercises that say they will help you burn fat from one part of your body, it’s simply not possible.

MYTH 2: Girls shouldn’t lift weights

Again, loads of newbies think that women shouldn’t lift weights. They think it’ll turn them into a bodybuilder with huge muscles. In reality, this will never happen. Women don’t make enough testosterone to produce the muscle mass that men have. Weight training is actually a staple in a healthy lifestyle. It helps you burn calories, it develops muscle tone – which makes everything look tighter and firmer – and it develops strength. All girls should train with weights, especially if you want to see improvements in your body – like bigger glutes or more toned abs!

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MYTH 3: Gyms are overpriced and not worth it

There’s been a fitness trend of home workouts over the last few years. This plays to the idea that gyms aren’t worth it – and are overpriced. In some ways, gym memberships can be expensive. But, this is when you’re forced to pay an annual contract all in one go. With places like Fitness 19, the idea or affordable rolling contracts has come into play. This makes gym memberships easier to afford, debunking that myth.

Secondly, gyms contain far more equipment and machinery than you’ll ever have at home. While home workouts can be very effective, there will come the point where you stop seeing progress as there’s no way to make the workouts harder. One of the ways you see fitness results is by increasing the intensity of your exercise sessions. This comes from adding more resistance. In a gym, you have machines that can go up in levels to increase the resistance, and you have more weights to keep going heavier and heavier. So, they are definitely worth it if you have the money. Home workouts are usually best in cases where you have no money, or you’re a beginner that wants to start their fitness journey and gain confidence before joining a gym.

Have you fallen for any of these myths? If you have, then they’ve probably held back a lot of your progress. Now you can consume the right information, get back out there, and start achieving your goals!

What fitness myths have you been told?

Thank you for reading!

Small Changes to a Healthy Lifestyle

February 10, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

The goal to be healthier is at the top of most people’s resolutions each year. It is also the goal the most people consistently give up on each year. A lot of times, the goal gets pushed to the back burner and then forgotten because people try to take on too much at once. If you want to be successful at being healthier this year, then try a couple of these small steps towards healthy living!

Water

One big way that you can improve your overall health is to drink more water. Most people don’t drink enough water and dehydration can result in headaches, skin problems, sleep problems, and eating more than necessary to name a few. It is easy to calculate the amount of water to drink each day. Take your weight and divide it in half. That number is how many ounces of water you should drink every day. The best way to stay hydrated is to get a reusable water bottle and keep it with you all day. Figure out how many ounces of water fit in that bottle and then track how many ounces you drink all day. Gradually work up to meet your new goal. You may be surprised at how much water you need to drink each day!

Supplements

Another easy way to improve your health is to take vitamins or supplements. A great place to start is to find a comprehensive multivitamin. Multivitamins are specifically designed for people of different ages and lifestyles, so find one that will fit your needs. If you already take a multivitamin, then you might want to consider adding another supplement like B12, kief or hash, or vitamin D. What is kief and hash? There is a lot of research and information online to help answer all your questions. Be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your supplement regimen too much.

Reduce Sugar Intake

Another big way you can improve your health is to reduce the amount of sugar you eat. There is a surprising amount of sugar in most beverages, so switching out soda or juice for water is a huge step in the right direction. You can also replace eating candy as an afternoon snack to almonds or other foods high in protein. These snacks will give you the boost of energy you are looking for while helping you keep your resolutions. The more protein, the longer you’ll feel full!

Exercise

Exercising may seem like a daunting task to take on at first, but remember you are focusing on small changes. If you aren’t exercising right now, then don’t jump into trying to run a mile every day. That is unrealistic and it isn’t sustainable. Start where you are and add a little bit at a time. Try doing a light yoga routine first thing in the morning. Walk somewhere you would usually drive. Take the stairs instead of an elevator if it is possible. Go for a walk on your lunch break instead of eating your lunch at your desk. Anything you can do to add a little more activity to your day is a fantastic place to start.

•What have you changed to live a healthier lifestyle?

Thank you for reading!

This post was a collaboration.

Fitness Health

Refrain From The Pain! Exercising When You Have An Injury

November 21, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

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If you are an avid gym-goer, it becomes part of your life. You can’t imagine yourself without it. Even something simple like walking turns into a rapid sprint. But if you have this enthusiasm for hitting the gym, there will be times when you do too much, even though you think you can push it that little bit more than normal. By all means, pushing it in the gym is what helps us in the long run, but if we do it too much we could end up with an injury. It’s something we’ve all had on occasion, overdid it and got sidelined for a while. And while we need to give our body the chance to heal, we have to remember that there are ways around exercising with an injury. So, how can we do this?

Listen To Your Doctor

If you’ve been going to a shoulder surgeon, and there’s been a constant issue with this over months, if not years, you must listen to the medical advice. Sometimes your shoulder can feel okay, and as shoulder injuries are one of the most common because the muscles in the shoulders are the least developed, understanding when to cut back is crucial. Your doctor can help to guide you with relevant training to keep you strong while recovering. A lot of people choose not to listen to medical advice. But you have to do the exercises for as long as they recommend.

Make The Relevant Modifications

With a specific injury, you have to learn to train around it. If, for example, you have a knee problem, it may be recommended you avoid any cardiovascular or lower body strength activity. But this doesn’t mean you can’t work on your upper body. It’s about making those modifications to ensure that you are exercising around the issue. You can switch to a workout routine that involves you sitting down, rather than standing up and running around. This means no squats or deadlifts for a while. And while this may sound limiting, consider it to be an opportunity to figure out a different routine so that there is no pressure on the offending muscle or joint.

When There’s Pain, Stop

We can feel that, after a couple of weeks, there are minimal or no pain anymore, so we feel that we can go back to 100% exertion. But avoid the temptation to go back into your normal routine. We are constantly told that pushing through the pain is crucial to building muscle and strength but if the pain starts to get worse before you begin to develop new pains in a related area, go back to the doctor. If the pain carries on while you are doing a modified workout, play around with routines and try something else. But unfortunately, it may be best to stop, especially if you are using the improper form to get the reps.

Reducing pain is crucial, and this means you need a good time to recover as well. It’s worth trying the POLICE principle which can help you to reduce sports-related injuries, but it’s not just about protection. You have to remember that maintaining is as important especially after you’ve made a full recovery.

This post was a collaboration.

Fitness Health

Walking, Your New Best Exercise

September 4, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 4 Comments

Wherever you look there seem to be a million voices telling you how to get fitter, how to get thinner and how to make yourself look and feel better. Often these voices overlap and contradict each other and trying to find a reasonable opinion is next to impossible.

That’s why in this blog, we’re taking a look at the benefits of just one exercise and why it’s beneficial to everyone, young and old, large and small. It’s easy, it’s free and almost anyone can do it who isn’t limited by illness or disability. It’s walking.

If you’ve always considered walking just a means to an end, we hope we’ll be able to convince that you’re walking for your health is a valid, fun way to start your fitness journey.

Walking is Accessible

If you have reasonable mobility and can get outside, then walking is for you. You just need a pair of comfortable shoes, canes if you need them, and off you go. There’s no need to splash out on expensive trainers or walking shoes, save that for it if you get really serious. Just strap on your sneakers and open the front door.

The other great thing about walking is that you can do it alone, with a friend, or lost in your music or a podcast. If you’re not feeling confident or haven’t taken a walk in a while, then ask a friend to come with you as you gain confidence in your own movement.

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Walking Takes You Places

No more staring at the four walls of a gym, walking can give you a fresh appreciation of your surroundings, reintroduce you to the natural beauty of your area and give you back that satisfaction of breathing in a deep breath of fresh air.

Progression is Quick

You might just take a walk around the block on your first outing. Well done, it’s a great start. But how about make it two laps the next time? Then you can set your sights further afield. Look online for mapped routes in your area, from very short to the slightly more challenging.

If you feel your fitness improving and are looking for more of a challenge, find hillier routes or try and maintain a faster pace. Whatever you do, just make sure you still find yourself walking just for the pleasure of movement. Nothing is guaranteed to stop you walking more than it feeling like a chore.

Walking is one of the best ways to experience the outdoors in a way that is gentle and builds progression. Make it fun, make it a walk that takes you to some beautiful places. Make it sociable with friends and dogs or make it your escape with your favourite music or podcast.

It’s never been easier to get your fitness levels up, so find a pair of comfortable walking shoes, wrap up and open that front door. You’re ready to take on the world and get walking.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health

Back 2 Basics: Simple Equipment For Workouts

September 1, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

What puts many people off from working out is the fact that you tend to need a million different things with you when you go to the gym. You need legwear in the way of joggers, spandex, or shorts. You need tops that breathe and soak up your sweat, made from spandex or synthetic fiber. Then you need trainers and gel soles which can bend and absorb your weight under pressure. You need gloves for lifting or some kind of wrist wrap support that will protect your joints. You also need wrist and headbands to keep the sweat from going into your eyes and giving your slippery hands. These days having a heartbeat monitor and calorie burning watches are standard practice, too. But what if you don’t have the time nor the money to go to the gym dressed in all this gear? Then you can buy some very simple yet effective workout equipment which you can use anywhere, preferably in your own home.

Free for Cardio Burning

There are a number of workout options for those that want to improve their cardio at home. First, you have to realize that raising your heart rate above a certain level is all you should be aiming for. When you do this, your body begins to burn fat. So things like aerobics, pilates, and yoga can be incredibly useful for those that want to workout at home. But for all of those exercises to be done safely, you need yoga mats. These will protect your feet and joints when you’re leaning heavily on them, absorb your weight to keep you stable, and also give your feet grip and comfort. Foam is the main material used for such products, as it bounces back under its own tension, so it lasts a long time. These mats can be simply rolled away when done with.

Single Arm Workouts

Dumbbells are one of the most versatile tools you can use anywhere in the home. They don’t take up much room and they can be disassembled, so they don’t pose a dangerous threat to children and pets. However, you should consider getting rubber dumbbells rather than metal, as these provide you with a lot more control. The kind of workouts you can do are great for achieving a toned body or even putting on muscle mass. Simple curling and extending exercises can be done either standing or sitting down. Everything from bicep curls, tricep extensions, shoulder presses, and wrist curls can be done in a 1-meter squared space.

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Hopping To It

As you have seen many athletes do, jumping rope is a great cardio workout. You’re using just your legs and your momentum to continually hop over and over. It keeps the heart rate going and the cognitive skills alert. Jumping ropes cost next to nothing as well, but there are many professional options which have modern designs made for beginners, such as end grips.

Going back to basics is sometimes where we all need to go. You can get great workouts from just sitting or standing if you have the right tools, such as dumbbells and yoga mats.

•What is your favorite at-home exercise equipment?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

4 Great Activities For Toning Muscle Quickly

July 8, 2019 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Weight loss is the initial goal for most people when they start their health journey, but once you reach a healthy weight again, you can start working towards other goals. Some people want to build muscle mass and strength and get big, but that isn’t for everybody. A lot of people find that even though they’ve lost the weight, they’re still not quite happy with their body because they just want to tone up a little bit more. Toning muscles so they look a bit tighter is often harder than losing the weight in the first place, and a lot of people struggle with this final step. That’s usually because they’re doing the wrong kinds of exercise and they continue doing the same things that they were when trying to lose weight, which isn’t going to work. If you want to tone your muscles, you should try some of these great exercises!

Yoga

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Yoga is such a great addition to anybody’s exercise routine for a few reasons. Firstly, it improves flexibility and stretches your muscles to stop them from getting tight and sore, which is very important if you’re working out a lot. Secondly, it’s a great way to reduce stress and improve wellness, so it can massively improve your mental health. Finally, it’s a great way to tone your muscles. People that haven’t tried yoga often underestimate how difficult it can be, and there are a lot of more advanced poses that use your own bodyweight to tone muscles. Doing ten minutes of yoga in the morning or the evening before you go to bed can really help to tone your body and improve your flexibility.

Martial Arts

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Martial arts is another great workout activity that is ideal for sculpting your muscles. It’s a great cardio workout, but a lot of it is about control, which engages your muscles. You’ll be using your entire body, which means you will get a good all-around muscle toning workout with every session. There are some great shaolin kung fu training schools that cater to people of all abilities so don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner. If you want to tone muscles and build a bit of strength, while maintaining your target weight, martial arts is one of the best activities.

Swimming

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Swimming is one of the best sports, regardless of what your fitness goals are, because it’s such a good overall workout. It’s a great cardio activity that is low impact, so it’s ideal for people that are recovering from injury (or also people who hate the gym, like me!). But it’s particularly good if you’re trying to tone muscle because you’re engaging all of your muscles at once, and the resistance from the water is good for toning.

Cycling

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If you are particularly focused on toning your legs, cycling is a great way to do it. You’ll be using your quads and calves a lot, so they’ll tone up very quickly. You also engage your core a lot when you cycle, so you can tone your stomach muscles as well. Cycling is another great low impact option if you’re trying to recover from an injury or you want to take a rest day from more intensive activity.

All in all, if you want to tone your muscles rather than build them, these are some of the best exercises to do!

•How do you tone your muscles? What has worked best for you?

This post is a collaboration.

Fitness

Finding The Perfect Gym For You: 4 Helpful Tips

June 12, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

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While it is possible to work on your fitness at home, a gym membership undeniably has its advantages. A gym is a dedicated workout space, so your home can be reserved for relaxation; the equipment is more likely to be high-end. There’s a range of different classes available for when you feel you need to shake things up, and help will be on hand if you run into any difficulties.

However, it’s fair to say that the experience of visiting a gym can vary. Some gyms are excellent, offering a wealth of benefits to their members that more than justifies their fees. Others… aren’t so excellent, and in the worst cases, could actually harm your ability to meet your fitness goals.

If you’re on the lookout for a new gym, here are four tips that can help to make sure you find the perfect gym for your needs.

#1 – Time Your Visit Carefully

Touring a gym before joining is highly recommended. Make sure you plan your visit around the same time as you would usually be working out. Doing so allows you to get a rough idea of how busy the gym is, and allows you to assess the atmosphere and conditions based on what you are most likely to experience if you sign-up.

#2 – Check the Machines Thoroughly

During your visit to a gym you are considering, take the time to check the machines in detail. First and foremost, look at safety aspects; do the machines look modern and well-maintained, or are they in the kind of disrepair that suggests using them may result in needing to call a personal injury attorney in future? In addition, assess the cleanliness; good gyms tend to ensure that their equipment is thoroughly cleaned regularly, so any sign of accumulated dirt will make that gym a no-go.

#3 – Examine the Existing List of Classes and Ask How Popular They Are

If you are considering a gym because they offer a range of classes you are particularly excited to try, it’s important to ask a member of staff how popular each class actually is. Gyms often cancel classes that have relatively few attendees, so you’ll need to make sure that the class you want to try will actually be available. On the flip side, if the classes you are interested in are bordering on too popular, you may find yourself having to join a waiting list before each class – so it may be worth trying a different gym to see if they have better availability.

#4 – Read the Fine Print

It would be impossible to discuss finding a great gym without a discussion of the contract you will be asked to sign, especially given that gym membership contracts have a tendency for being difficult to break.

*Just ask my boyfriend: Planet Fitness will only allow him to cancel his membership by GOING TO THE GYM HE SIGNED UP AT, which mind you, is in California! We live in Nevada now. Ugh, it is so frustrating. Don’t fall into that trap.

Always ask for time to read through your contract in full before signing, paying particular attention to the clauses related to canceling the contract. Hopefully you won’t need to cancel anytime soon, but it’s always important to make sure you know exactly where you stand before you sign on the dotted line.

The four tips above should help you to find the best gym for your needs. Once you find one, come back here and share which gym you chose! I’d love to hear more about it.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health Uncategorized

Why Helping Yourself On Your Fitness Journey Isn’t A Bad Thing

May 29, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

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Like anything people can become passionate about, the fitness community can sometimes have those who take everything they do with utmost seriousness, and can become quite draconian when imparting advice. Of course, when this comes to matters of health and safety, or when it comes to actually promoting what works, this is completely fine. However, sometimes you may be intimidated, thinking that unless you are following ‘the perfect way,’ you’re not following a way at all.

Fitness is a metaphor for our life, in that if we want something, we have to stay committed and work for it. However, over time this can prevent you from making the progress you want despite putting work in. Fitness, like anything you do to better your life, should be enjoyable and something you look forward to when it’s at its best. If you hate every gym session, every healthy meal, and feel as though you simply have to suffer through it – you’re not going to last very long at all.

This is why, especially in the beginning, helping yourself out on your fitness journey isn’t a bad thing at all. After all, if you want to climb a mountain, it’s a good idea to bring climbing gear.

Consider:

A Shoulder To Lean On

A gym can be an intimidating place to be your first time there. You likely do not know what most of the equipment is outside of the obvious fixtures, and trying to navigate a busy gym during peak times can be a nightmare. This is why it can be important start with a gym induction, and to simply walk around the place to see what you can and can’t do. Asking questions such as what the weightlifting chalk policy can help illuminate what actions you should be taking.

Sometimes, it can be hard to simply get in a routine schedule. If you haven’t gone to the gym for some time, what makes your current need so different? Also, how might you ingratiate yourself into the fitness lifestyle well? We’d recommend that finding a shoulder to lean on could be a great idea. Perhaps you could look online at a forum dedicated to your local area, and try to find a gym buddy that way. Perhaps you might ask one of your friends to start this new lifestyle with you, if they have also suggested that they wish to become fitter.

When you have someone waiting on you as you’re waiting on them, both of you will find it much harder to let the other person down. This can help you both enjoy one another’s company and also gain a stronger and more dependable approach when helping each other overcome their lifts.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, it can be a much safer method of attending the gym. For example, having someone ‘spot you’ on the bench press can help you avoid being punished by gravity if placing too much weight on the bar. You can also both help each other with scheduling, your diets, observing the other’s form, and giving one another safety pointers. In fact, the more specialized an athlete becomes, the more they will have to rely on the opinions and help of other people. So as a novice, there’s absolutely zero shame in finding this for yourself, and the same goes for the use of excellent personal trainers.

Getting Active & Alert

While many of us love attending the gym, getting up at an early hour in the morning, walking to the gym in the pouring rain, and having to wake yourself up on the treadmill or by lifting weights can be enjoyable, yet a little rough to experience. Sometimes, we might wake up feeling full of energy and well rested. Other times, we might feel the complete opposite.

Does that mean we should cancel our gym session the moment we feel just a little tired? Of course not, that would be rather ridiculous. But it might also be that we need just a little help in getting active and alert each morning. For example, it might be that you decide to homebrew beautiful filter coffee to keep you alert and active each morning. You might also decide to use pre-workout to help you get in the zone. You might decide to run to the gym in order to wake up, or perhaps join a certain specialized class you must attend in order to get the blood moving. On top of that, ZMA supplements can help you feel more alert after a great night of rest.

Getting active and alert is the key to success with your fitness lifestyle. We would recommend you consider the powerful benefits of doing this. You never know just how much it could help.

Supplementation

Added supplementation can be a wonderful thing. From using Vitamin C and D supplements to help your immune system (preventing you from catching something such as a seasonal flu from gym equipment,) purchasing T5 fat burners to help you drop weight naturally, and also fulvic acid can help you gain minerals you might have lost out on before.

Protein supplements can help you repair your muscles after an intense gym session, and help you meet your daily macro requirement. On top of that, weight shakes can help you bulk up and put weight on, allowing you to exceed your daily need for certain calories if hoping to build muscle. BCAA’s can help your muscles repair even more appropriately, as they are literally providing the amino acids necessary to help you heal in the most fundamental manner possible.

If you have a fitness issue, either hard work, readjusting your schedule, sleeping, eating better, or supplementation can help it. But supplementation is often a dirty word, because of all the questionable products that can be sold, especially overseas. But enjoying the use of these, if properly vetted, can help you get to the next level of your fitness life. To that extent, this can be a net positive.

With these tips, you’re certain to help yourself on your fitness journey!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

Why Fitness Should Be More Than A New Year’s Resolution For Women

February 7, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

We’re all guilty of it- Christmas passes and we make a New Year’s resolution to visit the gym more often. However, that doesn’t usually work out as planned. Something comes up and you have to skip a day at the gym. Then that day turns into a week and before you know it, your fitness plan is blown. The problem is, there are tons of advantages to fitness for women that so many don’t know about. Here are a few examples:

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Natural Energy

If you’re run off your feet because you’re taking care of kids, working all hours of the day, running a home, or all of the above, you’ve probably looked for a way to boost your energy at some point. The sad thing is, most people turn to caffeine for that energy boost when exercise is a much better way. It may seem idiotic to use more energy when you’re trying to save it, but exercising will give you a natural energy boost. The more you exercise, the longer it will take before you feel the need for an energy boost during the day.

Fertility Boost

Fertility used to be a subject that no one wanted to talk about. Luckily, women have become more vocal about it! One in three women struggles with some form of fertility issue while trying to have children. Exercise can help in two ways. It’s a fantastic way to increase blood and oxygen circulation throughout the body, which is a great way to help boost fertility. The increase in circulation can help to thicken the lining of the uterus, which encourages implantation. Similarly, struggling to conceive can cause stress on the mind and body and exercise is one of the best ways to find relief.

Heart Health

Sadly, there is more emphasis on men’s heart health than women’s. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less important. Women are just as susceptible to heart problems and heart attack as men- take a look at the signs of heart attack for women. Exercise is vital when it comes to keeping your heart healthy. Just twenty minutes of moderate exercise per day can help to keep a healthy heart. Studies have shown that women with good cardiovascular health age better and live longer.

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Beautiful Skin

As we age, it’s inevitable that our skin ages with us. As women, we want to hold on to our young skin for as long as possible. You can use all the anti-aging creams you can find, but they’ll never be as good for your skin as regular exercise (& tons of water!). The increase in good circulation will help skin to heal quicker, absorb moisture faster, and present a glow that make-up just can’t fake.

Increased Libido

Getting regular exercise can do wonders for your sex life. Women’s libidos are more sensitive than men’s and there may be times where you feel like your libido is low. There are a lot of things that can cause this, but exercise is ideal for helping you to get your mojo back.

Your commitment to fitness should be more than just a New Year’s resolution if you want to see positive changes, even if it’s tough to keep up with. You’ve got this!

• Are you sticking to your New Year’s resolutions?

• Is fitness a part of your daily life?

This post was a collaboration.

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Fitness

Knock Your Fitness Goal Into Shape With These Starter Exercise Classes

January 27, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

If you made a goal to get fitter this year, chances are, you’re behind. It happens to the best of us. January is dragging ever-onwards, and you’re already starting to skip gym sessions. Even when you do go, you’re getting into the habit of cutting sessions short because you can’t be bothered.

First, it’s important to note that this is normal. I can guarantee you that everyone who made a fitness goal for the new year is in the same boat. Consider practical ways you can address the problem before you let go of your goal altogether. For some, setting a timer for exercise may be all it takes. For others, more drastic action may be necessary.

If you fall into this latter group, you may find it beneficial to join an exercise class at your gym. These provide an incentive you may be unable to give yourself. Once you’ve paid for the sessions, you’ll most likely attend even if it’s just to get your money’s worth. You may also find that exercising with others is your best chance to push yourself (it’s impossible for me to workout alone).

The good news is, there are plenty of classes available. If you aren’t sure about your options, sites like Club Fitness can teach you more about what’s out there. Given that you’re a beginner, though, you may find that one of these three choices works best for you.

Yoga

Yoga is maybe the best option for those new to group exercise. That’s because it’s a workout method which focuses on self-care and doing what feels good. As such, you can rest easy that even a mixed ability class isn’t going to push you too far. In many ways, yoga classes offer the ideal opportunity for you to explore your limits.

Attending on a regular basis can also help you build stamina, which might be what you lack most at this stage. Once you’ve built yourself up, you may find that you don’t dread exercise half as much as you did at the start of the year.

Le Nguyen, West Fitness Center yoga instructor, holds her hands together during her yoga class at Joint Base Andrews, Md., March 9, 2017. Nguyen has been volunteering at JBA as a yoga instructor since October 2015 and has been practicing yoga for eight years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Valentina Lopez)

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Spinning

If yoga doesn’t get your heart pumping enough, why not try spinning classes? Spin bikes can help you pursue a bike riding passion, irrelevant of the fact that it’s winter! This is an ideal beginning class because it frees you up to take things at your pace. There are no routines to keep on top of. You won’t even need to fight to keep up with others in your class. Instead, you’ll be able to stay at the heart of your class, even if you’re most comfortable peddling at a slow pace.

Zumba

Zumba is another favorite class for those just starting. That’s because this is a fun and efficient way to improve your fitness levels. Unlike many dance classes, this fun alternative is aimed towards as many people as possible. As such, there’s no need for a knowledge of intricate dance moves to get going. As long as you can move to a rhythm, you’re sure to fit right into any classes like these!

Whatever fitness feels best for you is perfect! The point is to get up and get moving, no matter how you do it.