As we enter the New Year, there is a wonderful wave of hope that evokes the feeling of “what if”. For many, sticking to healthier habits earns them the top spot on their wishlist each year. However, these goals are often abandoned in February because they are lofty, unrealistic, or unimportant when life is resumed after vacation.
So how can you prioritize a healthy life every day? New Year’s aspirations are generally focused on popular things such as weight loss and finally re-lacing old running shoes. But if we can refocus our ambitions on something more motivating, such as getting a better quality of life, we will probably eventually stick to our determination-forever. ..
Functional fitness is the foundation for achieving a better quality of life. It means that you can safely and successfully engage in all activities of daily life easily, freely and with less frustrating pain. Your hands are strong and dexterous, so all you have to do is rotate your wrist to twist and open the bottle. When you’re in balance, it’s easy to climb the stairs. The strength of the lower body and core muscles allows you to better manage the physical burden of lifting and carrying heavy loads such as groceries and children.
However, achieving this stronger condition requires more training than standard gym aerobic and weight training. As with one-legged exercises, we want to incorporate movement patterns such as bending, rotation, and balancing to help meet everyday demands.
Our plan for January focuses on learning the key elements of functional fitness. Each week, we outline one of the four functional fitness elements needed to develop these important skills. The categories are balance, durability, flexibility, and load capacity.
To prepare for your new athletic journey, we begin Step 1 and Week 1 of your New Year’s Fitness Resolution with some goal setting.
The mechanism is as follows.
Be realistic. For many, the biggest obstacle to success is knowing how to establish realistic, achievable, and well-defined goals. Extreme statements such as wanting to lose £ 50 a month, never eating sugar, and exercising every day are not only unrealistic and unhealthy, but also make you feel defeated when you inevitably run out. Become.
A more effective approach begins with one comprehensive goal: improving quality of life.
Think about the outward, physical changes from adding functional fitness to your routine, as well as the less obvious inner, life-enhancing benefits. When you start, keep in mind that changes may come slowly, but don’t be discouraged. Respecting our health efforts will lead to lasting changes, such as:
1 day later: The more blood and oxygen that flows into your brain, the better your overall mood. You may hurt a little, but this will subside.
One week later: With easier exercise, more energy, better sleep, and more metabolism, your body burns more fat, even while you’re resting. The unhealthy desire may subside and be replaced by the desire for healthier foods. You will gradually feel more agile and flexible in your movements.
1 month later: Don’t misunderstand that depending on your diet, you can eat more if you exercise. – The loss of fat makes leaner, stronger muscles more prominent. It used to be tight and less painful in the joints. It’s not too difficult to climb the stairs. Your motivation and self-confidence will skyrocket and you’ll be on your way to a great year.
specifically. Lose weight, run more, and practice mindfulness — these vague goals need to be supported by a structure about where to start, how to reach them, and when to do it. As with any project, you must have a written plan and purpose to help you prioritize your goals, as being healthy requires daily dedication for results. Hmm.
Consider starting with a smaller goal, such as exercising for 20 minutes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the first week. By dividing your goal into smaller fitness fragments, you are more likely to reach your goal.
Then open your mobile calendar or buy a paper calendar to see your current commitments and settings. If you’re not a morning person, or if you have to work very early, it’s impractical to schedule your workouts in the dawn gap. By recognizing schedule conflicts early, you won’t miss a workout due to lack of time.
sort out. Feeling comfortable in an exercise environment makes fitness more enjoyable. Take the time to think about where you plan to work out and what you need before embarking on a new routine. No one likes to find a cramped training space or a lack of critical equipment in the middle of the circuit.
A month-long functional fitness series requires a small area, such as a basement or a corner of a bedroom. A set of free weights is a worthwhile investment, but you can substitute a bottle or can of water or put a book in your backpack. Organize your workout area right now so you can easily float on the fitness circuit without hassle.
Add the rest. Your body needs time to rest and recover. Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep at night. Do not work on the same muscle group for two days in a row. It takes at least one day a week for rest — maybe just schedule a stretch session or a gentle walk. If you are well rested and not overburdening your body and mind, your mind will be clearer and your body will function more efficiently throughout this series.
Remember that focusing on you is not selfish. Starting self-care is more effective in helping and caring for others. Let’s make this year the final year to earn rewards for the New Year’s fitness resolution.
Ashley Blake Greenblatt is a certified personal trainer and wellness coach in South Jersey. For more information on her virtual training program ashleyblakefitness.com.. Yvonne Ferguson Hardin (Fergie) is the owner of educational training in Fergie’s Germantown and specializes in educational exercise programs for athletes over the age of 55. For more information, please visit. TransformURlifetoday.com..
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