Getting Fit: Let’s Start With The Basics
OK, over the past few months, I’ve been trying to hold back. But if you’ve been reading my blog long enough, you’d know that I occasionally let a little blurb about fitness slip. I can’t help it. It has been a part of my life for like forever. So I’ve decided to cave – I’ve decided to give myself one post a week to dedicate to this topic. I may just give a tip. I may post a video. I may do some workouts that readers can do with me.
To start with, I’d like to share a few things that I learned from working in the fitness industry for fifteen years…
For most people, it is bloody hard to find time to exercise. People these days are busy and tired. If exercise it isn’t something that is already cemented into a person’s daily routine, then it’s really tough. Even for those of us who do it every day, it’s hard enough. What it comes down to is addressing one’s priorities. If you have time to watch television or cruise the internet for half an hour, then you have time to do something active. That’s the bottom line.
Fitness has to be accessible. If it takes too much effort getting to the gym, or figuring out what to do – even if it’s at home – then after a while, you are just not going to do it. Whatever routine you choose, it must be relatively easy to implement. This is especially true in the beginning, when motivation is lacking.
Fitness has to be fun, or at least, it has to have some kind of payoff. Nobody wants to do something they hate, especially if there is no reward attached. For me, the payoff comes in various forms, from how I look and feel, to getting to listen to the music that I like, to being with my friends and family, to seeing cute guys in their gym shorts. You think I’m kidding about that last one, but I’m not. I started going to the gym with a guy I liked. After that, I went because my husband played football and he lived in the gym. If I wanted to see him, that’s where I had to be. Whatever it takes, I always say LOL.
So in the coming weeks and months, I plan to address these issues. I plan to make working out as easy as turning on your computer. Sometimes, I’ll just show an exercise that I like. Sometimes, I’ll give a tip. And if I can get my act together, the plan is to start posting short videos that we can do as a collective group. Heck, I figure, I work out every day, it shouldn’t be too much trouble to tape some of it.
We’ll talk about varying your workouts, what to do to get the results you want, what to wear, what to eat, all that fun stuff.
Today, I’m going to start with my six simple rules for being the best, healthiest person you can be…
1. There are NO short cuts. Exercise and eating right take time and commitment. It infuriates me when someone promotes something to the contrary – Dr. Oz. 
That being said, there are tricks and tips to make exercise and eating right more palatable and doable. We’ll definitely cover these.
2. Drink water. Liquid calories are the biggest waste ever. NO pop. NO juice. NO alcohol – this should be reserved as a treat or for special occasions only. Coffee and tea should also be consumed in moderation – like one, maybe two a day max.
3. Eat often. Humans are meant to be “grazers” so a few meals with snacks thrown in should be the plan. Don’t ever think that not eating with help you to lose weight. It will do just the opposite.
4. Eat food that is as close to its natural state as possible. Me say processed food not good.
5. Plan to move. The two key words that you need to remember when planning your exercise routines are “consistency” and “intensity”. Both are important. Consistency for obvious reasons – if you are not doing something, how can it benefit you? And intensity because most people greatly (and I do mean GREATLY) underestimate what their bodies can manage. Remember: our bodies are adaptable. It’s true, so don’t be afraid to push yourself.
6. If you are not sweating, you are not working hard enough, unless of course you are in the pool, then you won’t notice the sweat, but otherwise… 
I look forward to sharing this part of my life with you. If you have any suggestions or ideas that you’d like me to address, just let me know. I’m here for you guys. We are all in this together!
For now, consider this…
Source: bodyrocktv.com.
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Awesome! I’ve been struggling to find the motivation to work out again. Can’t wait to read your fitness posts.
Well, you’re talking my kind of language!
I totally, and I mean TOTALLY, lack the motivation to start a fitness regime. I have all the “stuff”…weight bench, DVDs, apps on my phone, and don’t use any of them. I love to go for walks. I could easily make time in my schedule, but don’t. Help me, Fern!
Consider yourself helped.
First, I’d say that if you like to walk, then walk, and walk often. For almost everyone, including me, exercising is about incentive. I hope that over the next little while, I can give you incentive to make this part of your life. As I said, we’ll do it together! And like it was with my husband, if you hang around me long enough, you won’t have a choice LOL.
Great to see this, Fern! We’re looking forward to reading your tips and ideas–should be very useful.
Karen
I’m excited to do it.
Well said, Furry! I am a sister-in-exercise with you. I tend to get a little impatient with people who make excuses for NOT finding the time. I had a baby too, I know it’s a challenge to create time, but there’s stroller walking, working out with your baby and as they get older, it’s a great role model for being active. There’s so much you can do and not even go to a gym. Free weights at home, a jumprope, jumping jacks, squats. Geez, I need to stop. I’m such a freak. Great post!!
I think I may sense some collaboration here
For sure! Anyone can find 10 minutes. I mean if that’s all you could spare, it’s better than nothing, right??? 100 sit ups, 100 jumping jacks, pushups, plank, whatever. I’m preaching to the choir here, I know. I’m gonna go do some walking lunges into the kitchen now, bye…
That is exactly the kind of stuff we’ll be doing. I think I am going to put together some simple circuits of about 15 min each, and then people can just do that, or they do what I do and go through multiple times. I should work for beginners or non-beginners. Eventually, we could take turns, and put them together, or link to them, or something. It’s gonna be good!
I love it! You are so imaginative! I used to teach ballet and aerobics. I wish everyone loved fitness like we do! It’s so empowering, huh?
That’s the plan – to spread the love.
Fern, I am looking forward to your upcoming posts! I just finished writing about my own commitment to fitness but it’s less practical and more focused on my personal journey. I would love to hear more about your story-how did you end up in the fitness industry? Was there a turning point in your own experience that helped you?
I’ve always been an active person – a little ADD, I think. My love for fitness really started when I’d go with my mom (who was also a teacher) to the Y – she taught classes. I knew I could do it too, but I was shy at first. It wasn’t until after my kids were born that I got up the nerve to teach on my own. I’ve also just been lucky to be around people who were doing stuff – my parents, my husband, my friends. It’s easy to keep going when everyone you know is doing it too. I figure that I owe it to people to share this passion. I stopped teaching two years ago because I was starting to feel unmotivated, and a bit tired. I needed a change. I don’t want to go back to teaching classes again, but I can certainly share what I know through my writing and make a fool of myself on the internet if it means getting people moving. Glad you are following along!
So glad you are doing this. At one point I honestly even thought about asking you to. Rock on sister.
You can ask anything you want absolutely anytime.
Would you be okay if I repost some of your fitness posts? Many of my readers would love.
Share them with the world, I say LOL. Of course.
What a great idea. And I so look forward to reading your fitness posts!!
I’m a huge fan of this already and am looking forward to the posts!! Love the tips today
xoxo
I’m just going to watch you exercise.
Totally what I was expecting
ha ha that’s funny but Fern will be like a Wii, you have to move along with her!
no honestly, I’ll be perfectly content to watch and sip my coffee.
As I said before, I expected no less.
As a lifetime runner, I used to be able to eat and drink whatever I wanted and was able to keep a balance on everything…as I have grown older, that has not been the case. I am taking 90 days (the same number of days to complete a popular 90-day nutrition and exercise program) from running to jump start a new routine in my exercise and nutrition life. I think it takes about 30 days to start to change habits…and make them permanent. The best piece of advice I can give someone (pretty sure YOU don’t need it) is a exercise as early in the day as possible because reason/excuses for NOT doing it increase as the day goes by…and cut out soda…in all forms…it is poison.
I agree with you – I think it does take about 30 days to make a change. And working out or exercising in the morning is always good – it gets you moving, and you are less like to make excuses for it later. You do what you can though. And I hear you about not being able to eat or drink whatever the heck I want anymore. No more entire loaves of banana bread for me
this is a great post. it’s true what you say about drinking soda & juice… NOT worth it!
I can’t even understand how companies can sell pop. It’s like asking people to give money for drinking poison. OK, maybe that’s a little harsh, but I am very anti-pop LOL.
Woohoo! Looking forward to learning from your expertise!