April 26, 2024

When in doubt, walk it out!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

When in doubt, walk it out!

No time? No equipment for a workout? Walk! Walking for fitness doesn’t require expensive equipment, proper clothing, a specific location or a baseline of fitness. Simply grab your keys, phone and go. Instead of focusing on a target pace, set a goal to walk at a sustained pace, of your choosing, for a specific time.  Begin with 5 minutes and build from there. Unsure of walking outdoors? Walking may be done indoors for safety and comfort via the grocery store, mall, hallway or even around your living room. Indoor walking provides restrooms and chairs as soon as they’re needed. And the benefits are the same! You’re strengthening your heart, lungs, muscles, balance and agility. Go fast, go slow, go long, go slow, go outdoors, go indoors… JUST GO!

What fitness example do you set?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Encourage fitness by setting a healthy example!

Youngsters hear and see everything. Even when you think they aren’t paying attention, they are! If you pull on your jeans and grimace. If you complain how much you ate and now you “feel so fat”. If you are on the tennis court and whine how bad you are, can’t do anything right, or are so out of shape, you are setting an example. They look up to you, they think you are strong and capable. You’re the grown ups, after all. Set a strong, balanced, and empowered example of healthy living and smart fitness choices by using positive words and taking positive actions.

 

 

Isometric Abs!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Ab-Hold Exercise!

Isometric exercise means your muscles are holding a position tight, without movement. Try an Isometric Ab-Hold exercise to strengthen your core. Begin seated. Place both arms along the side of your body for support. Next slowly lean back until you feel your abs engage. Next, lift both legs up off the floor. Breathe normally. Hold for a count of 10 seconds, then release.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

Get Strong!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Get Strong!

Lifting weights yields benefits far beyond strong muscles. Pushing your body hard during a workout will inspire and motivate all areas of your life. GO WORKOUT!

Reaching goals in the gym, motivates you to reach goals in your daily life. You’ll dream big!

Feeling strong is empowering. You’ll be inspired!

Having a strong body builds body confidence and self esteem. You’ll feel good.

Pushing through a tough workout will strengthen your mind. Ideas and solutions will come to mind.

Committing to finish a workout reminds you how strong and capable you are! You can do anything you set your mind to.

 

Should You Revisit Exercise Machines?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Don’t underestimate exercise machines in the gym!

With the wave of functional fitness so popular, exercise machines can get lost, but they still hold value. What and how you work out should be determined by goals and ability. Consider your options, all your options, and a great option for you may just be exercise machines! Exercise machines provide guided range of motion in the tracking design of the machine. This means if you’re unable to stabilize your body position, the machine helps. If you like the option of different programming, routes and resistance, machines are a great choice. And if you’re wanting to isolate one part of your body, machines offer that option.

 

 

Little Bits of Fitness

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Lots of little bits of fitness add up to big health benefits.

You may not have a full 30 minute or an hour to devote to fitness, that’s understandable sometimes. So, do you have 5 minutes? 10 minutes here are there? Did an appointment or meeting cancel? Fitness is cumulative, so every little bit adds up to a stronger heart, lungs and muscles. Look around you during the day, do you notice ways to be active, more active? Take the stairs, park farther away from where you’re going, do balance exercises while standing in line, walk while waiting for an appointment, do range of motion when waiting, practice deep breathing, bike your errands, kick the soccer ball with your kids, romp with your dog. Every minute during the day of incorporating physical activity adds to your level of fitness. Keep moving!

Posture Reset!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Posture Reset!

Reset your posture after sitting at your desk with this exercise. Lie face down on your stability ball. Pull your torso up slightly to be in line with your legs. Tuck your chin into your chest. Raise both arms up to the side of your body. Rotate your hands to the outside of your body, so your thumbs are facing up. Balance with your legs, and lift both arms up about six inches. Pause for one seconds, and then slowly lower six inches. Start with ten reps.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

Need an attitude adjustment?

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Need an attitude adjustment? GO WORKOUT!

If you’re looking for a way to improve your mood, change your perspective or simply adjust your attitude, look no further than your workout. Exercise forces deep breathing due to the effort required. The result of deep breathing is stress reduction and a brain chemical mood boost. Exercise also brings emotions forward that need to be processed. Further, exercise clears your mind, allowing creative solutions to challenges to come to the forefront of our thinking. So, next time you find yourself grumpy, in a negative space or with a poor perspective, GO WORKOUT and enjoy the exhale!

 

Strong Shoulders =Better Posture!

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Strengthen your Shoulders!

Strong shoulders improves posture. Start with this Kneeling Reverse Fly exercise:

Begin on your hands and knees. Without weight, lift your right arm straight up to the side of your body. Keep your torso stable and don’t rotate your shoulders or hips. Do 10 reps, then release your right hand back to the floor. Next, lift and lower your left arm. Do 10 reps. When you have mastered correct form without weight, try lifting a small weight. This is an exercise where proper technique and form is paramount, not the amount of weight or even reps. Take your time, go slow and learn the proper movement pattern before progressing.

 

*Consult your physician before performing exercise.

 

After-Your-Computer Stretch

Get Fit Quick Tip:

Stretch your Hands!

Been on your computer all day? Do this after-your-computer stretch to ease muscle tension in your hands, wrists and forearms! Place your palms together with your thumbs forward. Gently press your hands together. Pull your shoulders down and back.