September 23rd is National Fitness Day. This is a day where people celebrate the fun in fitness. I recently got serious about my fitness journey, or shall I say more consistent. I saw many people dying from things that could have been controlled. My mom was diagnosed with diabetes, maybe a year and a half ago, and my father is sick and totally dependent on others. I decided I wanted to and needed to do something different to get different results. Below are some things that help me on my journey:
- Schedule time for fitness. I love early morning workouts. I decided that I would make the sacrifice and get up at 5:45 am. This meant I had to be in bed at a decent time. My goal was to be in bed asleep no later than 11 pm. Sometimes I miss it, most times I don’t. Every morning, I know, 5:45 am, I will be getting up to workout.
- Do what works for you. I decided a 2-mile walk is what I wanted to do. That is the distance from my apt to the major street and back to my apt. Some people will tell you to do more but move at your own pace. You can gradually add more miles if you like. You can also add more activity but do it at your own pace. You have to do what works best for you and the state of mind that you are in. Don’t start off saying; I am going to run 4 miles daily, especially if you haven’t worked out in a long time. Yes, you were able to do that easy at one time, but that was because you were still conditioned.
- Don’t beat yourself up if you miss your time or miss a day. On most days, when I don’t want to get up at 5:45, I will go walking at about 11 am. Most weeks, I miss one day of workout. That is ok. There will always be another day. If you beat yourself up and dwell on it, it will discourage you from keeping focus.
- Add as you go. I started out just walking. I now jog and walk. I challenge myself to jog longer, and I pick up the pace. Once I get to my stopping point in my jog, I still power walk. That way, my heart rate does not go down. I sometimes add other workouts here at the house. I plan to be more consistent with that. Again, still moving at my own pace.
- Be hydrated. As the sweat pours from your body, be sure to replenish it. There is no need for you to pass out due to dehydration.
- Join Facebook groups that motivate you to workout. I am a part of 2 groups, and I take pride in posting my workout. I record my workout on snap; that way, my friends can hold me accountable as well. We encourage one another in the groups, and I find new things I may want to try.
- Music is key to a good workout. Everyone’s taste in music is different. I have created a workout playlist under my Spotify account. My favorite song to walk to is “She Bad” by Cardi B. I put a little pep in my step and hustle down the street.
- Have Fun! You may find walking boring. That is fine; there are other ways to create your fitness journey. Attend a Zumba class, create your own dance class, go to Youtube, and download an app. Grab a partner if you don’t want to do it alone.
