Exercise (the E in AH NEW START) – General Exercise Principles to Feel the burn (literally)!

Wake-up Call!

I recently went on a men’s retreat organized by my church. It was fun. One of the events we had was hiking and climbing up to the Uisge Ban Falls. On our way back, we did some random events, one of which was pull-ups. I had a wonderful man, close to twice my age do several easy. I could do one before I realized I was not as fit as I was some months ago.

Uisge ban falls

I got a heavy resistance band less than a week later and started watching exercises videos to get myself into shape. Thankfully, my wife joined in (for her own reasons) and her incredible zeal has been a source of deep encouragement.

Exercising has multiple benefits, including weight control, appetite control, improvement in mood, and improved overall health while reducing one’s risk of many chronic diseases. It’s simply a fantastic medication! I totally recommend.

A push-up position

General Principles of Exercise

Of course, exercising consistently can be hard, even for fit people. I get it. Yet, it must be done. Our bodies and minds depend on us getting it done. Below are some general principles of exercise to keep in mind:

1.      Always stretch before and after exercising.

2.      Walking is one of the most effective methods of exercise available to man.

3.      Having  a professional teaching you and coaching you on exercises (online or on-site), at least early on, is key to prevent injuries or ineffective exercising.

4.      Registering at your local gym or exercising with others gives good motivation, especially when the going gets tough.

5.      Exercising about 30 minutes a day, five days a week is a good target to aim for

6.      Remember, “start low, go slow”.

In future articles, I hope to write on exercises I have personally found helpful (my battles with belly fat have begun!) Till then, keeping exercising!

Ayo.