Exercising for some can leave them in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
Others embrace exercise and can't live without it.
Others are stop-start about it — and can't seem to find something they enjoy long enough to stick with it.
If you've never exercised before or are new to even the thought of it, you may have visions of sweating, grunting, straining, running and doing things with giant tractor tyres in a big shed.
You can exercise like that or you can make a start with something a little less energetic. Either way there is no quick fix or magic solution to improving your health and fitness. It takes time.
Some people start with exercise a friend has encouraged them to do. Come on, they say, you'll love it. So up you get at 5am and it's everything you wished it wasn't. You're left gasping on the floor and vow never to go back. They love it, so they think you will. Plus they've been doing it long enough to build up their fitness and see results.
The point here is to choose a form of exercise that you will enjoy most of the time — that way you will be more likely to stick with it.
We are fortunate in Wanganui to have a wide variety of exercise choices.
Whether that's starting with an early morning Bootcamp, or joining a gym, it's important you start out with a gradual approach, not an all or nothing one. Gyms who care about results for their clients will make their programmes interesting and varied and ensure they start at the appropriate intensity level. People who run group fitness classes should be aware one size does not fit all and show a variety of levels. Then gradually over time as your ability improves you can increase the weights or repetitions or levels.
This equals results and stickability.
The weather is hot and humid at present, and this can also be offputting for someone new to exercise. Drink plenty of water and work out in the earlier part of the day.
It's always good to have several choices of exercise.
For example, if you exercise outdoors and the weather does turn nasty then coming indoors to the gym means you don't miss out and you keep your routine. Exercising is not a luxury — it is something you must do to remain in in good health and reduce your risks of some diseases.
