Fitness is Fab
Is staying active part of your daily routine? Or maybe you have some fitness goals that you want to start? Working out is super good for you — whether it’s walking, lifting weights, or stretching, all activity helps your physical and mental well-being. Read on for musings and tips on getting started and staying consistent.
Get inspired.
I’m not going to pretend to be a fitness expert, so I do want to recommend you do some research and follow some inspirational folks. I use the workouts by Fitness Blender, where they have hundreds of free videos available on their website and on YouTube. You can create a free account and add workouts to your calendar, and track your progress when you check off each workout day. You can also get a membership to their FBplus and get access to more videos and programs, which I like a lot because then I don’t have to figure out what my workout is that day — it just tells you! I have been working out with husband-and-wife team Daniel and Kelli for over 10 years, and they give out real, practical advice (eat real food, take breaks, etc.) and they won’t try to sell you products, nor do they do endorsements from anyone.
Another person that I follow on Instagram is Jordan Syatt. His humor and approach to diet and fitness is direct and encouraging. He does say bad words, so just FYI if you watch his stuff or listen to his podcast around kids. His approach is eating in a calorie deficit and strength training and consistency will get you towards your goal.
If you want to get into yoga, I suggest checkout out Yoga by Adrienne. I started doing her challenges (free on YouTube) after I had my first baby and she makes it easy to follow and is very sweet and inspirational.
Get some sleep
Don’t forget to consider your other health goals. Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night. I have timers on my phone to remind me not to doom-scroll too long and to get to bed at a reasonable time. It’s very easy to check email, look up something, or catch up on your social messages before bed, but before you know it, it’s 11pm and you just got sucked in! It happens to the best of us, so find a way to check yourself, and consider doing some screen-free evenings and enjoy a book instead.
Start small
Walking is a wonderful exercise. It’s cheap, easy, and can be done anywhere. I have a walking pad that I use most days, which is nice when it’s too hot outside to walk, or I need to stay home with my kids and they are not able to keep up with my pace. It’s a good time to catch up with a friend on the phone (or make a date!) or even listen to a podcast or audiobook. And you do want to doom scroll or watch videos, you might as well do it while taking a walk (but be careful!).
Strong and flexible
If you’re up to the task, consider doing some weight training. Use a video from Fitness Blender and get some cues and tips on how to move safely. They recommend Powerblock Dumbbells since they don’t take up a lot of space and they are easy to adjust. I have a set that goes from 3-24 pounds in each hand and I have had them for over 10 years! Try starting with 2x a week and go up from there. As we age, it’s really good to build muscle, and stay mobile. After each session, your muscles are warm, so cool down and get a good stretch in. It helps with mobility, back pain, and all-around flexibility helps in so many ways. If you enjoy working out in group settings, local gyms have great classes and can be very motivating when you have coaches and friends there to cheer you on!
Overall, I hope you have movement as a part of your daily routine. It helps all aspects of health, and it’s so good for you and those around you. If you hit any of your goals, don’t forget to celebrate! You can even keep track of your workouts on your meal planner, and make sure you eat lots of whole foods to fuel your bosy as you work on your health goals.
Cheers!
