Getting Started!
It can be extremely intimidating getting started on your physical health and fitness journey. Be it from social media influences, which make you feel like you have to go to the gym 5 days a week and lift weights, or not being sure where and how to get started, it can make improving your physical health seem like a monumental endeavor. However, this does not need to be the case. Every journey, no matter how long, starts with a single small, seemingly insignificant step, but those steps add up over time.
The First Step!
You do not need to go to a gym to start your journey, and you do not need to hit the ground running. Start slow! The recommended physical activity for individuals is 150 minutes of moderate levels. Realistically, just getting started 150 minutes is a lot of time. How do you achieve this? You do not need to immediately start at 150 minutes, but rather work up to it. Also what is physical activity? It is simply voluntary movement of your body, meaning walking, jogging, working in your back or front yard, any voluntary bodily movement counts. If you currently don’t do much physical activity, taking the stairs instead of the elevator when possible, or going for a 5-10 minute walk after dinner a few days a week can significantly improve your overall health. Getting up and moving is the first step.
keep it going!
Once you have taken that first step, try to maintain it for a few weeks before trying to make changes. Change can be small, like adding a singular minute to your walk every day, or going for walks more days of the week. Every time you make a change, spend some time adapting to it being a part of your regular life before making another.
Physical Activity Options!
You would be surprised what can be considered as physical activity. Games like Just dance, and even Wii sports, that are fun to play with family and friends, can be considered physical activity, especially when you get competitive with each other. It is also an amazing way to get your entire family active without pay for activities, gym memberships or even going outside.
Youtube is another amazing resource. There are dozens, if not hundreds of videos on Youtube, specifically aimed for individuals who want to get active at home without weights. You can find dance and Zumba, yoga, chair yoga, low, moderate, and high intensity workouts, and several other formats. You don’t have to pay, register, leave your home, buy equipment, or worry about being on time for a class. You have total control over when and where you can do this.
In Conclusion…
Physical activity is important for everyone, and is accessible in many forms. It's important to remember that you can start slow, and please give yourself grace. Missing a day is not the end of the world, you simply need to acknowledge it and adjust what you can to get back on track. Life happens, but to continue living life we must take care of ourselves, and be understanding of ourselves. Start small and progress slowly. It’s not about getting that summer body, or looking like the models and influencers you see online, but rather building habits you can maintain to help you live and get the most out of life.
