Fitness & Health Tips

Six Easy Fitness Tips for the Beginner

Losing weight, toning the body, or simply becoming healthier overall, can often be a daunting task for many people wanting a healthy lifestyle.

The is particularly the case for the beginner, who up until this point in time, might have led a sedentary lifestyle. But now, you might want to lose some weight, tone up your body or maybe you just want to feel better and more confident about yourself.

Here are six easy fitness tips that even those who have never exercised before can incorporate into their own daily lives to help them lose weight, build stamina, and enjoy a healthier life.

1. Make a Commitment to Exercise

Make a firm commitment to exercising for at least 15 minutes each and every day, either making it a part of your morning routine, ending the work day with a brisk workout, or finding time during the evening to raise your heart rate, or perform some type of continual exercise for 15 minutes at a time.

Alternate the exercises you choose, such as working the lower body or the legs one day and switching to those targeting the abdominal muscles the next, and moving on to the arms or upper body the following days, which will also ensure that you're working several muscle groups and areas of the body throughout the week.

2. Remember to Exercise Your Mind

Exercising and expanding the mind are also important for getting fit and healthy. Studies have proven that exercise increases the amount of endorphins produced by the brain, which are "feel good" chemicals that elevate our mood and help us to feel better in general. In fact, exercise is often prescribed by doctors as an alternative to medication for the treatment of depression.

3. Do Spring Cleaning Throughout the Year

Once per week, find something or some area in your home to clean, whether it be washing down the walls, weeding out in the backyard, rearranging and cleaning the closets, or simply turning on some loud music and dusting the house with vigor and enthusiasm. Besides having a much cleaner house, you'll also increase the calories you burn and be helping your heart and lungs stay fit and healthy at the same time.

4. Developing a Routine

Many people find it helpful to develop a routine, including keeping a food and exercise journal to monitor their progress. Seeing your goals on paper helps to solidify them, and also encourages you to persevere and challenge yourself when faced with the next goal. Be sure to vary your routine to prevent yourself from getting bored or disinterested.

5. Learn Isometrics

Even while sitting down watching television, working at home on the computer, or even at the office, you can do simple exercises that will not only increase the number of calories you burn, causing you to lose weight, but also strengthen and build muscle, which will help you to lose weight in the future.

While seated, contract the abdominal muscles for 20 to 30 seconds, remembering to breathe naturally, and then repeating, building up sets as you increase strength. You can also exercise and strengthen the muscles in the legs and buttocks while seated in a chair or at a desk doing the same tightening exercise.

6. Walk Smart

Many people are surprised to learn that the actual way you walk can affect how many calories you burn. Be sure to wear comfortable, supportive shoes, preferably walking shoes, while swinging the arms, and holding the head and back straight, keeping a brisk pace.

Invest in an inexpensive pedometer and monitor your progress as you find new ways of meeting your goals, such as taking the longest route possible, whether it's just walking somewhere, or simply going to another area of the house or office, and you'll soon be surprised at how quickly the steps add up.