***Get in the Habit of Keeping in Shape by Judi Moreo

Another year has passed, and the advertising for weight loss and exercise is abundant. We know we should keep ourselves in shape. But, somehow, by the time we get to March, we let it go by the wayside. So how do we get in the habit of keeping in shape?

keeping in shape

It’s not necessary to join a gym to stay in shape. What is necessary is consistency and commitment. These are the tenets of a good habit. Just labeling them doesn’t make them any easier to do. It just helps you come to grips with what needs to be done.

Keep your exercises simple, especially in the beginning. Focus on aerobics. Weight training is important, too. But, you will get more out of aerobics in the near term. As you develop stamina from your exercising, you can increase both the intensity and the types.

Make sure that you stretch before and after your sessions. If you don’t, you risk injuring yourself. Further, you won’t get the full benefits of your exercises when you don’t stretch.

Getting in shape can make you look great. However, that is not the only benefit. It will give you more energy and allow you to work at your optimal performance. It also helps you get into a better sleep pattern. That will keep you alert and give you the ability to handle stress.

Exercise is likely to help you live longer. It reduces your risk for serious diseases and reduces your chances of getting hurt. Your quality of life will be higher and you won’t have to depend on medical services as much.

Too many people use exercise as an excuse to eat whatever they want. The logic is they eat bad foods and then work out to burn the calories caused by the foods. However, it’s not putting your body in its optimal form. The bad foods are bringing the quality of your body down and then you’ll work out to just break even. Therefore, it’s almost as if you didn’t work out. This is an oversimplification but an important consideration. You still need to eat a healthy diet. You can stray slightly more than others who don’t exercise. But, it is a matter of degree.

When you form a great habit of frequent exercise, it will change everything about your life in a positive way. You will look and feel great and be able to take on the challenges that come your way.