WAY S T O G E T B A C K I N T O A N E X E R C I S E R O U T I N EC R E A T E D B Y D R . M A R K M C B A T H

Let’s face it - everyone’s lives get a bit busier during summer, and this often means that we lose track of our exercise routines.

• Instead of waking up and working out in the morning, we may find ourselves enjoying family time at the beach, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

• But, in order to stay on top of our health, we must all figure out ways to get back into an exercise routine that works with our schedules, especially after having taken some time off.

• In order to set up a regular workout schedule, we must recognize the power and importance that staying in shape has on our lives.

• Those who workout regularly have less of a chance suffering from a stroke or heart attack later in life.

• In addition, exercise helps lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and lower cholesterol - in essence, it changes our health lives for the better.

• Some people think that participating in everyday house chores is a form of exercise, but maintaining a regular workout schedule in addition to those chores is the right decision to make in terms of your health.

• According to an article published by LiveScience.com:

• “There’s some danger in calling these day-to-day activities exercise, according to the results of a BMC Public Health study. Researchers followed the habits of more than 4,000 people and found that those who counted housework towards their exercise goals were heavier on average than those who didn’t. The reason isn’t clear, but it could be that these people were overestimating the time or effort needed to complete their chores,” (3 Tips for Getting into an Exercise Groove).

• In conclusion, exercising daily, along with eating well, is the best thing we can do for our health.

• So, here are a few tips for getting back into an exercise routine…

• Find the time of day that works best for you to workout.

• If you’re a morning person, why not wake up and go for a run before work?

# 1

• If you’re not up to running just yet, simply start with walking each morning and adding a 5 minute jog in the middle of your walk.

• The next week, increase the jog by another 5 minutes until you can go for a run for a full 30 minutes.

• If you’re more of a night owl, exercise in the afternoon, or just before dinner time - just don’t exercise two hours before you go to bed (your body needs time to unwind).

• Take a workout class. Better yet, take a workout class with a friend for motivation (and to make sure you don’t skip a day).

# 2

• Try starting by taking a class twice a week for 2-3 weeks.

• Then,if you like the class, take more!

• This can be any class from hot yoga to pilates, or even a bicycling class.

• Make it a commitment and part of your schedule so that it eventually becomes part of your everyday routine.

Make a schedule for your workouts - and stick to it!

# 3

Sometimes, we all just need to write things down (because who doesn’t love crossing things off a list when we complete a task?).

• Go out and buy a planner specifically catered to your workouts or daily activities, this way you can make sure you are on track with your exercise routine.

You may even notice, if you plan strategically, that you’ll have time for workouts and the beach!

- D R . M A R K M C B AT H

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