At the start of the New Year, many people will add "getting in shape" to their resolution list. In fact, according to WebMD, about 33 percent of all people who make a New Year's resolution will include losing weight on their list. And about 15 percent of them aim to start some sort of fitness routine as part of their resolution.
But what does that really mean? Are all exercises right for all people?
Are there some fitness routines that are better for some people and some that are bad for others? The answers are not that simple but the basic idea is that eating better and moving more, in any way possible, is the key to getting back into one's skinny jeans.
WebMD advised that the average person needs a good fitness program that includes exercises that work out the whole body to lose weight and tighten and tone one's body. A cardio workout, such as running, dancing, or playing active sports like tennis, improves the function and health of a person's heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
These type of activities increase the body's demand for oxygen, burn calories, and give one's heart a workout. It is one of the essential parts of a great fitness routine and can be achieved in many ways, including running around one's house or neighborhood.
For those who are striving to enhance the function and health of the bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues, weight-bearing exercises like weight-lifting are perfect. This is the other essential factor in any good fitness routine.
Weight-bearing exercises involve anything that uses one's body weight against gravity. Examples of these type of activities include walking, yoga, martial arts, push-ups, weight training, and free weights. Some exercises, like playing basketball, include both cardio and weight-bearing elements.
WebMD encouraged anyone trying to get in shape to focus on working out the larger muscle groups in the body. Since most of the muscle mass in one's body is in the trunk, thighs, chest, back, and abdomen, focusing on those areas will give good results in little time.
Livestrong.com told people looking to lose weight or get in shape that choosing an activity that is enjoyable is the key to starting and maintaining a fitness routine. Doing something one actually likes to do will increase the odds of keeping up healthy habits and help make getting in shape a total lifestyle change.
Sources:
WebMD.com. Web. 9 January 2012. "New Year's Resolution: Get fit". http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/new-years-resolution-get-fit
Livestrong.com. Web. 9 January 2012. "Exercises to acheive weight loss goals". http://www.livestrong.com/article/130547-exercises-achieve-weight-loss-goal
Reviewed January 10, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith