No time to exercise in 2010?

Lee Latchford Evans, ex Steps Star now Celebrity Fitness Expert

Are You Ready to Get Active in 2011?

We are now at the beginning of a New Year, and many of us will have made New Year Resolutions about improved health and fitness.  One of the most common reasons people give for not doing exercise is that they don’t have enough time.   Well, if you don’t have the time to protect yourself against 24 different health conditions, then perhaps you deserve what you get!

Exercise is as important as eating, sleeping and breathing – and we always seem to find time for those things.  Exercise should equally be a non-negotiable part of your daily routine.   So no more excuses.  Lace up your trainers and get motivated and active!

The Benefits of Exercise

Exercise is not just about losing weight – it offers so much more protection that goes well beyond weight control.   Exercise is without a doubt one of the most powerful ways to improve your overall health.  Researchers have found that exercise reduces the risk of about 24 different health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, type II diabetes, strokes, dementia and depression.  Exercise also slows down the rate of aging!  It is a real fountain of youth! Fitness is now believed to be one of the best indicators of health and longevity

Here are some more benefits:
•    Normalizes insulin and leptin levels
•    Improves brainpower
•    Lowers blood pressure
•    Relieves pain
•    Improves circulation of immune cells
•    Helps to cure insomnia
•    Fights depression
•    Increases energy
•    Builds strong bones, muscles and joints
•    Reduces risk of premature death
•    Reduces risk of colon cancer
•    Promotes psychological wellbeing
•    Reduces incidence of back pain
•    Reduces risk of osteoporosis

Variety is the Spice of Life

This is such a well known saying – and it is also true of exercise.  Many people that I meet have got themselves fixed into doing only one type of exercise – over and over again! We need to remember that our bodies have an amazing capacity to adapt to the stresses that we subject them to, and exercise is a form of stress.  Your body needs lots of variety – including strength training, cardiovascular training, core strength training and flexibility – and if you introduce this you will achieve much better results.

It Starts With Clear Goals!

Start by setting yourself clear goals and change them every month.  If you are running, go for the mile and in the next month, increase your goal to 2 miles.  If you are strength training, set a target for weights or repetitions, and then change them.  Change your goal every month.  This will keep your body fresh and will stop it reaching a plateau.

Training and keeping fit is not easy, but it is very rewarding and once you get past the initial stage your body will then start to crave it.

So make 2011 your year and a year to make it happen – no excuses! Everybody can find 30 minutes in a day and to start with, that is all you need.

Good luck and have a great fit and healthy 2011.

Lee

(Feature Sponsored by FamouslyFit.com and Profigura Gym, Javea)

Coming Soon
Why Your Workouts Don’t Work!