Having a goal to finally get in shape and having a body that just might look fine when you get to the beach and take off that t-shirt of yours, is not unique. In fact, it’s probably on a lot of people’s minds as the winter and springtime months have passed.
But you know exercise, the right kind of exercise needs to be a part of your new lifestyle now. And hopefully, it will continue to be a part of your life for years to come. After all, staying in shape is a lot easier than working hard to lose those extra pounds and increase your energy levels so that you can do a lot more things easier than you can do now, with all that extra poundage you’re carrying around.
So, what do you do? How to help you help yourself is not rocket science anymore. Here are a few recommendations on what you can do to help you both look fit and have that toned body you’ve thought about for a while now.
Head into the great outdoors. Walking and biking outside are great ways to get fit during the summer. Enjoy the fresh air, the quietude, and the simplicity of communing with nature. Lose yourself on a mountain path or a hiking trail. Visit your local public park for hiking and biking opportunities. Or if you live in a rural area, all the better. Get out and check out those mountain trails and enjoy the venue that “Mother Nature” sculpted for you. It’s an ever-changing view that you won’t ever see, within the walls of a gym!
Go running. Running is a low-cost exercise that can get you fit quickly. All you need is a comfortable, well-fitting pair of running shoes and your legs to take you wherever you want to run. You could run along a natural trail, on a community track, or on a treadmill.
Start by walking for about 5 minutes to stretch and warm up your leg muscles. Start at a time or distance you feel comfortable with. For instance, you might start out by running 10 minutes each day. Add minutes or distance every few days to continue building your running endurance and strength.
When you’re close to finishing your run, sprint hard for about 30 to 60 seconds. If you do this before ending your run every time, you’ll be able to build speed as well as endurance during your runs. When you’re done running, walk around for about 5 minutes to cool down.
Hit the gym. Working out at the gym offers tons of options and possibilities for getting fit. Try a variety of exercises and focus on the ones you like best. We mentioned above about using the great outdoors for your aerobic exercises, but strength training rounds out the whole physical fitness experience for you. Strength training builds muscles and helps with toning your core as well. Creating the right balance between cardio and strength training can help you achieve that body you want, sooner rather than later.
Cardio (or aerobic) workouts involve working the heart in whole-body exercises like biking, running, jumping rope, or walking.
Strength Training can include “Resistance” workouts like bench presses, push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, lunges, and squats. These are the best exercises for building muscle. Switchback and forth between cardio and resistance exercises. For instance, run for 30 minutes, then do 30 pushups. If you're unfamiliar with gym equipment or certain exercises, ask the staff for assistance. For an added cost, many gyms also offer personal trainers to help you develop a routine that works for you.
Start small: It’s best to start small when getting fit. For instance, start out by walking or running 2 miles (3.2 km) each day, depending on your current physical fitness level. After you can easily do 2 miles (3.2 km), start doing 2.5 miles (4.0 km). Increase your distance to 3 miles (4.8 km) after another week. Continue adding distance until you feel you’re working out at your maximum capability.
Measuring your new activity is important because the goals you set for yourself need to be tracked. After all, how do you know for sure just how well you’re doing every day, each week, each month? Using an activity monitoring device, such as the Fitbit Inspire HR Fitness Tracker with Heart Rate activity monitor can be the best way you can hold yourself accountable so that you can not only meet your goals but surpass them!
Inside the device are an accelerometer, optical heart-rate monitor, and vibration motor. The former two sensors allow the device to track steps, distance, calories, activities, and sleep, while the latter is used for smartphone alerts. Notification vibrations are strong enough to alert you to a new message but not so strong that they'll startle you. The heart-rate monitor keeps track of your pulse continuously, taking and storing measurements every five seconds, or every second during exercise tracking.
The Inspire HR is swim-proof up to 50 meters, and it will track swim exercises. Even if you don't swim regularly, the device's water resistance should protect it from accidental drops in the sink or if you forget to take it off before showering.
It's comfortable to wear all day and all night while using the new touchscreen and single side button for navigation, makes it easy to move from screen to screen.
So, how about it? You started off saying you finally are making the commitment to get yourself, your body in better shape, right? Isn’t the Fitbit Inspire, just the activity tracker you need to help accomplish your goals?
When the time comes and you walk out on that beech, and your shirt comes off, “You” might find it hard to keep that smile off of your face because you know you have nothing to be ashamed of! After all, you’ve worked at it, right? No, well maybe its time you need to.
After all, you’re not getting any older and the longer you wait, the harder it's going to be to try and get that 6-pack look you're trying for, and we both know its not a 6-pack that you pick up at your favorite store.
See you on the beach, your comrades here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com!