STARTING A NEW FITNESS PROGRAM - Augusta Health



STARTING A NEW FITNESS PROGRAM

Why is it, every year we have good intentions of setting New Year’s Resolutions, but by year’s end, they have dissolved? If you have had a resolution to begin an exercise program, and didn’t stick with it, you are not alone! Let 2012 be the year to get healthy by beginning an exercise program. Whether you choose to exercise at home, with a partner or with a certified personal trainer, these tips from Augusta Health’s Lifetime Fitness Center can help you to be successful!

First, you must really take a hard look at your schedule. Do you have an hour or so that you can dedicate to exercise? Rearranging your schedule a few weeks in advance may be necessary to make time to exercise. Once you find an hour or two, reserve it for exercise.

Angela Kaltenborn, MS, ACSM, NCSF, Exercise Physiologist at Lifetime Fitness says, “Schedule your workout as you would any other important appointment or meeting. Treat your exercise time as you would those other commitments and make it a priority. After all, that is your “healthy appointment” and you cannot miss it!”

She adds, “Human nature is to give it “all or nothing” when starting something new. However, when beginning an exercise program, it’s best to begin slowly and work your way into the program. That way, you don’t “burn out” from exercising everyday and you allow your body time to heal.”

Her advice is to start with two or three days per week and again, set those times into your schedule. If something comes up that causes you to miss an exercise session, you still have four or five days to make up that missed day! By the end of the week, you will still have completed your two or three days and have been successful for that week!

Finally, it is imperative to understand that you will not see results overnight. “If it took you several years to add on that excess body weight, you’re going to need some time to lose the weight. But remember, every healthy choice you make, will help you reach your goal quicker,” Kaltenborn says.

Beginning an exercise program can be very stressful and full of decisions: What exercises are best? Are there any exercises I should avoid? What classes would help most and still be safe? Kaltenborn notes that Augusta Health Lifetime Fitness offers a wide variety of classes and programs for everyone, including those with medical conditions, ailments or limitations. “We’ll be happy to discuss your specific concerns, answer those questions for you and ease your fears about exercise. People should be encouraged to stop by, tour Lifetime Fitness, and see what a difference medical fitness can make in their lives,” she adds.

Forty to fifty percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions each year, but only 40% to 46% of those who make resolutions are successful six months later. It’s time for you to be a part of that percentile and make a healthy lifestyle change today.

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