How to get fitter in 3 simple steps
Improving your fitness level is essentially very easy. You don’t need fancy machines, the latest state of the art gimmicks or gizmos, or access to the best gym in town, you just need to follow some very simple principles. Anyone can get fitter and it is often very quick and easy to do. Here are the 3 simple steps you need to take to see fantastic improvements in everything you do.
- Be consistent, don’t miss workouts
The most important, and the hardest thing, you need to do is “show up.” Whichever area of fitness you want to improve: walking, running, swimming, dancing, strength, endurance… whatever it is you can only get better by doing it on a regular basis. In fact, the more disciplined you can be with your efforts, the faster the improvements will be. It is far better to work out on the same days each week, than be inconsistent and irregular with your training. Your body won’t change and improve without regular stimulation.
- Do more than you did before
You’ll need to change what you do on a regular basis; at least once a week or more depending how often you can train. These amendments don’t need to be massive just small, consistent improvements every time you exercise to enhance progression. For example, if you want to get better at walking, you can walk further, faster, with less rest, up hills, wearing extra weight etc – it doesn’t matter how you increase the effort, the important thing is the extra challenge you give your body.
- Push yourself out of your comfort zone
At first, it is a very good idea to start at a lower level than you are actually able. This is for a number of reasons; apart from gently easing your body into change and not being over-faced, perhaps the biggest benefit to hanging back a little when you first begin, is you consistently improve over time before reaching your limits.
Whilst you don’t have to overdo it, it is inevitable that you will need to dip out of your comfort zone every now and again to achieve the best improvements possible, but it doesn’t need to be for long periods of time; as you improve you’ll be able to do a little more each work out.
Remember to make notes about your starting point – either mental notes or written – so you can see exactly where you’ve come from; you won’t always be aware of just how much you’ve improved!
Remind yourself that there will always be a little discomfort by pushing yourself more than you usually do, but the improvements you see and the endorphin rush you’ll experience will make it all worth the small amount of effort it takes.
To your health and fitness – Jago