Showing posts with label getting started. Show all posts
Showing posts with label getting started. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Exercise Equipment: Choosing the Right Options

Exercise equipment is something we all know of, yet it is something we may not know much about. For starters, we don’t buy it very often. When we do buy it, it is a big purchase and we don’t want to make a mistake. We’ve all heard the horror stories of the “expensive coat racks” in our friends’ houses, right? Maybe you even have an expensive home “accessory” that you hoped would be serving a healthier purpose.

It’s ok, we have all made purchases that didn’t work out for the best. With exercise equipment there are a few key things to consider before buying in order to avoid this:

What are your fitness goals?

This sounds like common sense, but you have to ask yourself the question before starting anything new. When purchasing exercise equipment, you are going to be making a big commitment to something. You are making the biggest commitment to yourself, but if you jump into something you are not going to use, it will feel like a big failure. Consider the following categories and determine which is most important to you:
- Endurance
- Strength
- Flexibility
- General Health

What do you really like to do?

It is easy to see something on TV or to have someone tell you about their results using a certain piece of equipment. The hard part is picking the equipment that you will use and will enjoy using for months and years to come. That is why the first question you should ask yourself is: “Will I really like doing this in 6 months?” Think about the following types of equipment that you can buy for your home:
- Treadmill
- Eliptical machine
- Stationary bike
- Universal cable machine
- Weight Bench/Free weights
- Resistance bands
- Other (as seen on TV products)

How much space do you have/want to use?

Space is a big consideration. There is a big difference between a home gym and a DVD. You can take up as much or as little space in your home as possible. Some people need a separate area to do their exercise while others like it to be integrated into everyday life and take up little space. Determine how you would like your “home gym” to look before you jump into a purchase.

What is your price-range?

This sounds simple, but you can spend as little or as much money as you want on exercise equipment. One of the common barriers to buying equipment is the belief that it is too expensive. It doesn’t have to be and it you are looking for the right thing, you may not need to get the highest priced option.

Once you have asked these questions and have a clear picture of what might be the best piece of equipment for you and your home, you can start looking. That can be an intimidating process too. Be sure to look at research and review websites before you start shopping.

Once you have reviewed and determined which brands, models and features you are looking for, you are ready to purchase. The prices could still vary greatly, so shopping is a good idea.
- Local options -Go talk to reps, ask questions, try equipment and see what your best options are going to be. Have a list of features you are looking for and a price that you want to pay and you can make sure you are getting what you want while keeping it within your budget.

- Direct Manufacturer sites - Once you know the brand you are looking for, you can go directly to their website or call them to get more info. In many cases you can actually purchase equipment directly from them too.
Purchasing exercise equipment can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be too difficult. If you are able to try anything out beforehand, talk to people that have used it before or visit stores to test it out, you will have a much better feel for what you are looking for.

Convenience is one of the most common reasons for people not going to a gym or getting enough exercise in on a regular basis. Having equipment at home is a great way to make it easier for you to reach your goals. There is nothing more convenient than having the tools you need right in the comfort of your home. As long as you are taking the time to make an educated purchase, owning exercise equipment is a great investment that can pay many dividends physically, mentally and emotionally.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Health: Simple Steps for Simple Results

Health can be overwhelming. There are a million things to think about. How much do you eat, what do you eat, when do you exercise, what do you do when you exercise, where do you go, who do you ask, what do you look for…
The list can go on for hours if you are really trying to focus on health improvement. Or it can stop pretty quickly if you are overwhelmed and can’t think about it anymore and give up. Unfortunately, for most people, the second option is not only more likely, but has become the norm.

It feels more difficult to live healthy than it does to just “do whatever”. We all know what happens when you “do whatever”. You really do what is easy. That is ok if the results you are looking for are a continued decline in your health. It is not ok if you want to improve or even maintain your health at a certain level.

So, what do you do? You dive into a program that shows you “the right way” or read articles and watch programs designed to show you “the right way”. The way that they are showing you is very complex and specific to a certain philosophy. The program may work. It may actually be a good thing to do. The problem is that you have to think differently and act drastically differently than you are used to acting.

This makes changing quite difficult. When the only changes in front of you are sweeping and drastic, it will be difficult to make them. If changes are smaller and easier to manage, you can expect to complete them and be successful.

This is the mistake that most people make. When you go to the grocery store, there are a million choices and possibilities. Rather than defeat yourself before you even get there, make a small list of two or three items that you want to make sure you pick up. Going to the store is already a plus and will have positive impact on your routine. Getting a few choice items that you planned on will give you another step in the right direction and help you feel like you are getting the hang of the process.

Keeping it Simple

Food tip: Don’t worry about every detail on every label. Don’t worry about the difference in nutrient level between this vegetable and that one. Don’t try to change everything about your diet in one day. If you are eating fast food a lot, pick a level that would be a measureable improvement and stick to it. Don’t try to cut it all out immediately.

Exercise tip: Don’t try to run a marathon this week. If you are sedentary, don’t expect to be a on a world-class athlete’s training schedule next week. The only way to get started is to get started, but if you try to do too much too soon you can a) injure yourself and b) get extremely discouraged when you miss one workout when life happens in week two…or week one.

The moral of the story is: keep health simple and you can do it. If you make it too complicated, you will simply out-smart yourself and make it too hard. The longer you do it, the more intricate and advanced your process can be. I’m not saying that it isn’t good to be focused on the details and finding every way to live healthier. I’m just saying that if you don’t accomplish anything because your “perfect routine” is too hard to stick with, you might as well not do anything.

And that is the problem. Most people are saying that right now. “If I can’t do it, I may as well not even try.” That is the attitude that many of us have when it comes to health. The truth is, we can all do it. It doesn’t have to be difficult. As long as you are willing to put in a little time and make small changes, you can live healthy.

In fact, living healthy is pretty simple as long as you make it simple. The best way to make health simple is to focus on small, simple steps. When you can get a few simple steps going, you can start working on the next ones. As you work on these steps you will continue to see results. It’s all about simple steps for simple results.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Spring Clean Your Routine

Spring is finally here! Depending on where you live, you may be excited for a change or you may already be used to warm weather by now. Either way, spring is a great time of year that brings back fond memories for all of us and keeps us looking forward optimistically. Why do we love spring so much? Well, we love it for the same reasons that we can use the season for positive change:

Renewal: Spring gives us a sense of new. Everywhere you look, you see reminders of a new season and a new chapter in the year. Use it to reach your goals!

Outdoor Access: Now that the weather is getting warmer, it is only natural that we can get out more often and stay out longer when we do. The fresh air can rejuvenate us from day to day and even help rejuvenate our entire routine.

Spring is a great time to take inventory of your routine and decide if there is any “spring cleaning” needed. Even if it’s just a minor adjustment, this is the perfect time to make it. It’s just like cleaning out the garage. It is a good time to do it and here are some steps that will make it easier.
What can you do to spring clean your routine? (How does it compare to cleaning out the garage?)

Revisit your current routine (Taking inventory)

Before you start making changes, you have to know what you are doing now. Ask yourself a few simple questions:
What are you doing for your health now? (What is in the garage now?)
What challenges have I run into lately? (What items do we really need to move or get rid of?)


Plan your future routine (Clearing out the junk and moving things out)

Now that you see what your current routine looks like and what challenges you want to fix, you can start making plans to adjust. There are a few more simple questions to ask yourself at this point:
What do I want to be doing? (What do I want to keep and what do I want to throw away?)
When/Where do you want to do these activities? (Where are you going to put the items you are keeping?)


Execute (Reorganize and put things away so you can actually use them!)

Go out and do it! This is the best part about your routine and cleaning the garage. It is the time when your needs, plan and action all come together. It’s not the easiest part of the job, but when you do it, you see rewards.

No matter what you are doing, there is something very satisfying about setting and reaching goals. Whether you are revamping your exercise routine, your diet or actually cleaning out a room in your house, when you put a plan together, take the time to make it happen and see the result you were looking for, there is nothing better. You wanted to do something, you did it and now you can see the results.

Health may not always be as immediate. You don’t always see results quickly, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t happening. Just make sure that your plan is realistic, give yourself a realistic timeline to execute (you wouldn’t try to clean out the garage in 5 minutes) and you will be on your way to a healthy and happy spring.

Have a Healthy Spring!

Monday, January 14, 2013

New Year, New Start

Each year, we push through the holiday season and all of its craziness. When January rolls around, we have a chance to wipe the slate clean and set new goals. A detailed plan makes it possible to stay on track and reach your 2013 goals. If you are going to be successful, your routine has to be in line with your plans and goals. Hopefully you have a plan to meet your goals. Hopefully your plan is more than just a “resolution” made as the year ended.

Your health and wellness impact your life in many ways. The cost of your future medical care and the current cost of insurance and other medical needs are impacted. This all leads to overall financial impact. Your day to day energy, mood and ability to get through the day are impacted as well. You can choose to impact these areas positively or negatively.

The more you make health part of your routine, the better you will feel and the better you will function. It’s no secret that health works and it’s no exaggeration to say that everyone wants to be healthy. This year, you can make it the year that you meet your goals. Since it is January we have a fresh start and we already have New Year’s resolutions on our minds, so we have a few questions for you on an individual level as we kick off 2013:

What are your goals?
What do you want to change about your health
?

If you want to see any changes, you have to have a plan and you have to take action. The most important question is:
What is your plan to reach your goals?

We challenge you to put together a plan that works for you and will keep you achieving your goals all year long:

• Write your goals down
• Tell someone about your goals
• Think about what challenges or barriers you may encounter
• Create specific steps to overcome these challenges and barriers
• Determine how you will measure your progress
• Decide what rewards you will give yourself to celebrate success along the way


No one wants to look back and wish they had started sooner, so get going now! No matter what your goals are, you can get started now and set yourself up for a healthy year. Even small steps now will pay dividends later in the year.

We continue to hear about the healthcare crisis, obesity and diabetes epidemics and many other health problems around our country. Clearly, living healthy is not easy. Deciding to focus on improving health might be easier than actually doing it, but getting started can be overwhelming. It all starts when you do. And you can start anywhere at any time.

Getting started is important, but sustaining the momentum is even more important. January is a great time to get things moving, but it is only the beginning. This is the first step in a long-term plan that will provide long-term results. We want you and your family to be successful in life and in health. That is why we are here to support you. Hopefully your year is off to a great start and you are on track with your goals. If you haven’t set goals, now is a great time to do it. Let’s make 2013 a successful, happy and healthy year!

Happy New Year from The Wellness Division!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Fitting Exercise In: Next Steps

We all know how important exercise is. We all know that there are many benefits to exercising. Unfortunately, we also know how difficult it can be to fit exercise in. That is why I’ve written countless articles about why it is worth fitting it in despite the challenges. The difficulty you have fitting in exercise now pales in comparison to the difficulties you will face later in life.

Exercise isn’t just about weight loss. Exercise is about quality of life. And despite the stigma it gets among those that don’t want to do it or find it too hard to do, exercise is something that you will enjoy. Even if you don’t enjoy each and every session, I assure you that the results will be enjoyed. Think about the benefits of exercise for a moment. These benefits include:

1. Weight Control

When you burn calories, you lose weight. When you don’t burn them, you gain weight. It’s simple and we all know it.

2. Long-term Health

Exercise prevents many chronic conditions and helps you live a longer life. Certain risk factors (like heart disease, diabetes to name a few) can be dramatically reduced for a longer life and more healthy and enjoyable years.

3. Mood Boosting

Exercise is proven to boost mood and is even being used by therapists to treat depression.

4. Energy

Exercise wakes the body up and helps you get going. It works at any time of the day, so get moving for more energy.

5. Sleep Improvement

Exercise helps us regulate sleep patterns. By moving more during the day, we are better able to shut down at night.

Do any of the things on this list sound bad? Do any of them sound like things you should be avoiding? Of course not! They are all things we want every single day. We want to be healthy, feel good and have more energy. No matter who you are, I can guarantee that these are things you would like to have in your life.

Well, are they in your life? If so, you have realized the importance and started taking action. If not, why are they still not part of your life? Is it because you haven’t found a way to fit exercise in? This is not uncommon. In fact, it’s the norm. Most people are not active. About 30% of Americans don’t exercise at all.
Why is this? We know all of the good things that exercise brings, so why are we still not doing it? It’s simple: we are not finding ways to fit exercise in. It is simple to understand why exercise is good. It is also simple to understand why people are not able to get enough. We all have busy schedules, obligations and not enough time to complete them. That is no surprise.

It is not so simple to understand how to fit exercise in. That is a big reason that so many are not fitting it in. It takes planning, preparation, dedication and motivation. It takes what some think is too much. But, I don’t think it takes as much as everyone thinks. I think it takes one step on one day and a willingness to stick with it. Sticking with it doesn’t mean gritting your teeth and doing something you don’t like. It just means adjusting so that you can do something to keep it going.

We will get into that later. First, let’s take a look at some tips for fitting exercise in:

1. Know Your Schedule

Sit down and take a few minutes to determine what times would work for you. It is easy to say: “Oh, I’ll fit it in at some point.” How has that worked in the past? Exactly, if you don’t have time, you won’t do anything. You have to look for realistic times and realistic blocks of time.

2. Use Your Schedule

It’s not enough to say: “I’m going to start working out every morning.” You have to think about what makes sense for your schedule and your comfort level. Once you have don’t that, put those times on your calendar. The more formal you are with your schedule, the more likely you are to stick with it.

3. Own Your Schedule

Once something goes on your calendar, remember how it got there. You put it there! If you put it there, only you can take it off. If you have something important and beneficial to yourself on the calendar, there is only one reason to take it off. That one reason: If something is more important and more beneficial to you. I didn’t say “more urgent”, I said more important. There will always be urgent things that come about. These things are not important. They may scream for your attention, but unless we are talking about an actual emergency, urgent does NOT equal important. Put it on, don’t take it off. The little things can wait until you are done. In fact, they may even feel easier because you are energized.

4. Keep Your Schedule

It does you no good to hit it hard for a week and then quit. Don’t think that exercise is going to be something that you start and instantly perfect. It will take time to work your way into a routine. Many people do it without thinking about it, but many others still struggle to fit it in. The difference is the first 3 steps. The next factor is looking at those steps in a long-term view. You have to know that you are doing to do this for a long time. I even suggest thinking about what you want to do for the rest of your life. It sounds extreme, but how many days in a row are you going to do that fad workout program? How many times are you going to force yourself to go to the gym that is too far away just because got a deal?

You already know the reasons for fitting exercise in. You know that you want to do it and you know why you want to do it. These are really the next steps. Apply them and know that the more you try, the better it will work. The longer you can commit the more results you will get. The list of results is long and it makes no sense to fight it. The difference between success and failure is having a plan. These steps should be the first in your plan to fitting exercise in.