Be True To You: Find Your Authentic Fit

What is fitness about? This will differ from person to person. For some its a doctor’s order to improve their wellbeing and habits, for others its a passion that they cannot do without, and everything in between. Now more than ever fitness is important to combat the rise in heart disease and other metabolic conditions that is affecting the United States. How does one begin fitness? How can you find exerting your physical and mental limits enjoyable? We will explore that.

The general recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine for an active adult is 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity and muscle strengthening activities for two or more days that incorporate all muscle groups. These are pretty broad recommendations, it generally does not matter what physical activity you choose to do as long as you meet the minimum thresholds. An achievable strategy could be to space out your physical activity throughout the week. This will allow for some consistency and not being overwhelmed in a day.

There are many modalities of physical fitness. Group exercise is a diverse setting where an instructor takes you through a guided workout. There is a great accountability factor here, making social connections and even looking forward to working in a group to keep active and healthy. Instructors also provide guidance to prevent injury that you could potentially face when on your own. In terms of variability there are many different classes that can keep you engaged and meeting the activity recommendations.

For those that prefer to workout alone in a gym setting, there is nothing better than playing your favorite music or podcast and focusing on yourself. Motivation is intrinsic and you want to keep succeeding and progressing towards your goal. You wake up every day to put in your effort towards this goal and understand the bigger picture. In a gym setting there is so much you can do whether it is strength training, power, bodybuilding, or endurance training.

What if you are more of an aerobic endurance person and don’t enjoy the gym setting? There are many outdoor activities you can choose. You can sign up for races involving runs, bike rides, swims, and CrossFit style races. Find what you enjoy doing, but also consider branching off into other modalities from time to time. Take time to soak in the good outdoor weather and stay healthy, especially in the spring and summer time.

Lastly we have recreational athletics. There is a strong social aspect here as usually you will be playing on teams. Some people prefer this to the traditional gym approach as sports also involve strategy and teamwork. With such a wide range there is sure to be something for everybody.

As you can see “fitness” is a very broad term. The benefits of physical activity far outweigh the cons, which are minimal. There is something out there for everybody, it is never too late to get started. Regular exercise and meeting the minimum recommendations will improve your longevity and quality of life. Consistency is a very important factor on your health and wellbeing. It doesn’t have to be a chore if you enjoy it!