As we all know, a healthy body is a healthier you! So you definitely need an exercise routine to keep that body toned and energised. Exercising, as most of you know, has become a part of my lifestyle. I often do try to eat healthy and live a general healthy lifestyle. Even though that comes with a price, such as having to stay away from certain foods or cut down on certain things, the benefit of living a healthy lifestyle and exercising often by far outweighs the sacrifices. I try to exercise at least four times a week if possible. There's a raft of scientific evidence that proves that regular exercise (150 minutes per week, which is about 30 minutes five times per week helps extend our life span.
Here are some of my favorite exercise routines that you too can incorporate into your daily activities.
Running:
Running is one of the best butt-kicking, calorie-blasting workouts around. Running has health benefits that extend well beyond any pill a doctor could prescribe. Studies have shown that running can help prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, some cancers, and a host of other unpleasant conditions. What's more, scientists have shown that running also vastly improves the quality of your emotional and mental life, and even helps you live longer. If you're a runner, like myself, you will agree with me that running helps distress your mind and body. I am always at my best when I run. I run for an hour on the road if the weather is good. If the weather is cold and freezing, I use the treadmill.
If you're just starting out, I would advice you begin running for 20 minutes at your pace and gently build up as time goes on.
Strength:
Strength exercise routine is a type of physical exercise that requires the use of resistance to induce muscular contraction which builds the strength, endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. Most people call it body building, but I necessarily won't refer it to that. I say this because, when you introduce "strength" to your exercise routine you may not want to build your muscles. You may just want to feel stronger, or should I say build your inner will power as this is what strength does for me and most people. (It gives you the ability to carry on your daily activities without feeling exhausted too quickly).
Let's face it, life is easier when you're strong and are able to carry groceries, lift your kids and run around with them without feeling like you ran a marathon. Whether you're 100 lbs overweight or just need to lose the last 15, strength training is one of the most effective ways to burn fat and build muscle.
Tips:
- Use barbells first.
Start your workouts with barbell exercises. Barbells let you load a lot of weight, and lifting heavy is the first step toward getting stronger. Once your heaviest strength exercises are out of the way, you can move on to dumbbell and bodyweight training. Remember to start easy and gradually build up especially if it's your time time lifting a barbell.
Healthy Eating:
I cannot overemphasise on the importance of eating clean as part of your exercise routine, and even as a daily lifestyle. No matter how many hours you put in at the gym, if your eating habit is not clean and healthy, then it's a complete waste of time as you will notice very little or no result. So what's the point in putting your body through running and strength building you know you won't back it up with a healthy diet? What you need to do which I find as being effective is to write an eating plan and put it where you can see it every time. This way, you will be motivated to eat clean. Think of fruits, vegetable, protein (most especially), certain carbs are good for your body, but remember to reduce your carb intake to a very minimum amount. Also when you drink lots of water you help your body to digest food faster. Other things to consider when it comes to healthy eating is :
-Eat a wide range of foods to ensure that you're getting a balanced diet and that your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs.
-Eats lots of fruits and vegetables
-Cut down on sugar and fizzy drinks
- Cook with little amount of oil preferably virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
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