Ready, Set...Relax!

Exercise! Does that word make you cringe? Does it create an overwhelming sense of guilt? Why do we all say, “I need to exercise.” Or “I better go exercise” Why does exercise have to be the bad guy? Besides, whenever you’re done exercising don’t you feel great? For some reason, we can’t remember that great feeling come 6am the next morning when the alarm goes off. .............

Exercise does not need to be this scary enemy that so many of us have turned it into. All we need to do is switch our mind-set and simplify exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. You don’t need to set a world record every day, you just need to get out there and do something. Don’t spend a month scouring the internet sites searching for just the right plan while doing no exercise at all. Start with something simple – walking. It’s easy, cheap and you can start today. My advice is to start with cardiovascular exercise and keep that a staple in your workout plans of the future. The basic facts of cardiovascular exercise are:

1. It is any exercise that uses your large muscle groups and gets your heart rate up. Examples: walking, jogging, biking, swimming, aerobic classes.

2. You should do the exercise for at least 20-30 min. at a time. If your goal is weight loss, then the longer the better, but again, start small. You don’t want to burn out in the beginning.

3. Apply the “talk/sing” rule to know if you are working hard enough. The rule is: While exercising, you should be able to carry on a conversation, but you shouldn’t be able to sing a song.

Cardiovascular exercise is SO great for your heart. If heart disease is something that is prevalent in your family, then cardiovascular exercise is a must. It can also help prevent and even treat diabetes. It’s the SUPER exercise. So get moving!