Spring into Fitness: 10 tips

Find a workout partner so you can both motivate each other.

By Glenn Stark
Director of Fitness
Bay Tennis and Fitness

Spring is here, and the warmth of summer is soon to follow. Spring is a great time of the year to embark on your exercise conditioning program, but where do you begin?

The following are 10 tips to put a little more spring into your conditioning program:

1) Goal Setting- "Goals help you channel your energy into action"-Les Brown. What are your short and long term goals? This is a great way to keep you motivated and focused during your program. Remember to set realistic short term goals, something that can be attained within 1-2 months. Writing in a journal is a great way to track your progress. Whether your goals are to shed unwanted winter time weight, run or ride in a race, or simply walking the beach this summer with family and friends, setting goals is a great way to keep you on track.

2) Evaluate Attitude- Who ever said "Attitude determines your altitude" could not have said it better. This is very important when it comes to fitness. Do not focus on how you do not want to exercise. Work on having a positive mental attitude by visualizing how great you will look and feel. Make sure to keep your head in the game by staying focused on your goals and prepare for setbacks. Realize things are going to get in the way, when it does, deal with it and move on, stay positive.

3) Gear Up-Make sure that you invest in the proper gear. Start with considering a new pair of shoes. Take the time to find the right pair, and make sure to focus on quality and comfort before price. Make sure the store has knowledgeable staff. Another word of advice is to bring in an old pair. This will give the staff an idea of your wear patterns and can help in finding the right shoes. Wearing comfortable, stylish clothes are a great way to keep you inspired to continue with your work outs. It's hard to stay motivated if you are not comfortable in what you are wearing.

4) Start Slow & Stretch- Going too hard too soon will only increase the risk of injury that may result in strains, sprains or worse yet a pulled muscle. So make sure that you properly warm up and cool down, stretching should be at the top of your lists. Make sure to start from slow to moderate activities and build on it from there.

5) Keep it fresh-Make sure that you are keeping your routines and activities fresh, fun, and exciting. Do not get stuck in the rut of doing the same thing over and over again. Add other activities that you normally do not do, try hiking, cycling, or try swimming, dancing, tennis or any other activities that will get you moving and your heart rate up.

6) Find a Cheerleader- It is easier to achieve your fitness goals when you have a good support system. By finding a workout partner you can both motivate each other to stay on track and hold each other accountable. Many find it worth the investment to hire a personal trainer to structure a program based on your specific needs and goals. .

7) Involve the Family- Activities that involve the family are a great way to jump start your physical activities. For example, if your kids are old enough to ride bike consider jogging along side of them while they ride. Consider doing activities over the weekend that involve movement rather than sedentary entertainment such as movies or TV. .

8) Eat Right-This is an important part of your program. Make sure not to get caught up in all the fad diets that are out there, focus on balanced nutrition, eating a combination of protein and carbohydrates every few hours is a great way to keep your energy levels up. Eating healthy will allow you to gain more energy while maintaining muscle and burning more fat. Remember to drink at least 10 glasses of water daily. Make sure to talk with a doctor or nutritionist, they can establish a sound nutrition plan based on your personal data.

9) Sleep Right- Getting enough sleep is just as important as diet. It is a good idea to start developing good sleeping patterns. Try getting the same hours of sleep every night by getting up and going to bed at the same time. Make sure to avoid caffeine or other stimulants 4-5 hours before bed. Doing relaxing activities like reading a book or listening to music is a great way to create a relaxing atmosphere.

10) Annual Checkup- It is important that you look into getting an annual checkup, regardless of how fit you are it is always a good idea that you consult with a doctor before you start any new workout program.

This is part of the online edition of Northern Michigan Life.

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