Let’s keep unleashing new features here at BFD, whaddya say? Today’s reveal is The Ask Box, where you ask, and I answer. Our first question comes from EM, who writes:
Hi! I was wondering if you could write about getting fit, getting started. I recently went on a second medicine for high blood pressure and my doctor again recommended “losing weight.” I would like to get fit, not so concerned about my weight, but was wondering how to get started on fitness and would love to hear your thoughts.
First of all, EM, congratulations on recognizing that getting fit and losing weight don’t always go hand in hand. I was thinking about this tonight when I was working out at the gym. I’ve been going for a couple of months now, and I think I look pretty much the same. Do people wonder what I’m doing there, since I’m not getting smaller? Well, regardless of what anyone thinks, I’m getting stronger and feel great, and for me, that’s what fitness is about.
But back to your question. How do you get started? I’ve broken it down into a few helpful hints. Let’s take a look!
Take your time. You don’t marry a guy on the first date (unless you do, which, okay, good luck to you!), so don’t expect to fall in love with fitness on the first day. Give yourself time to find something you really like doing, and to get into the habit of being active. They say developing a habit takes about 30 days, so practice patience. If you try something and you don’t like it, don’t give up. You’ll find something – it just might take time.
Variety is the spice of life. Try lots of different stuff. Rent some workout DVDs. Throw a kettlebell around. Walk around the neighborhood. Swim, jump rope, dance around the kitchen with your kids! Fitness comes in a lot of different forms, so give as many as you can a shot. You never know what you’re going to fall in love with until you try.
Go easy on yourself. Waking up tomorrow morning and doing all 10 of those super-intense DVD workouts until you’re a puddle of sweat on your living room floor? That’s probably not the best idea, and not just because you’re a novice exerciser. Going from zero to sixty might work if you’re a car, but you need to give yourself time to adjust to your new lifestyle. The chances of sticking to your new routine will be much higher if you are kind to yourself along the way.
Make some rules. Make a date with yourself for fitness. Life is busy, and it’s tough to fit everything into our days as it is, right? To help create that fitness habit, schedule your workouts. Start with 30 minutes a few days a week. If you can only manage one day a week right now, that’s fine – don’t let anyone (including yourself!) guilt you into thinking you’re not doing enough, or doing it right. Build up to a more regular routine. Put your fitness dates on your calendar, and talk to your family about your new plan and how important it is to you.
Break some rules. There are all sorts of fitness “rules” floating out there in the world, from how much you should work out, how often, what exercises are “best,” and what aren’t worth your time. Here’s my advice: Do what works for you. If your friend got super fit from swimming two hours a day but you can only find time for 30 minutes in your basement with some hand weights and your iPod on Wednesday afternoons, that’s absolutely fine. Start where and when you can, and build from there.
EM, if you’re looking for more specific advice, please let me know. I am happy to help develop a plan with your needs and goals in mind. But I really encourage you to first get out there and try some different workouts. I started out walking for thirty minutes at a time six years ago, never imagining that one day I’d be crossing half marathon finish lines. Bottom line: Figure out what you enjoy. Fitness should never be punishment. If it is, you’re doing it wrong, and chances are, you won’t stick with it. And sticking with it is what’s going to help you be healthier.
Do you have a question for The Ask Box? Send it to bigfitdeal@gmail.com!
