Why It's Never Too Late To Care About Fitness

Most people are fairly active while they are young. Even today, a lot of children enjoy kicking a ball around outside or climbing trees just as much as they enjoy playing video games. Once you start school, there are gym classes and school sports teams to keep you active. As you get older, however, it is natural to become more sedentary.

There is a phenomenon known as the "freshman fifteen", which describes the inevitable weight gain which occurs during your freshman year, as you enjoy a lifestyle of partying, drinking and fast food. Health-conscious students tame that weight gain by taking advantage of college gym memberships, but for all too many people the freshman fifteen is the start of a lifetime of weight gain and poor lifestyle choices.

Turning Your Health Around

The good news is that it's never too late to start thinking about your health. It doesn't matter whether you are 24 or 64, if you change your lifestyle then you will see improvements in your energy levels and your wellbeing.

If you have been sedentary for a long time, it is a good idea to speak to a doctor before you start a new fitness regimen. The best thing to start with is a program that includes moderate intensity resistance training and some cardiovascular exercise. Resistance training helps to strengthen your muscles, increase your metabolic rate, improve your balance and increase your bone density. This means that when you get older you will be less likely to suffer an injury from falling, and you will be better able to cope with the challenges that day-to-day life throws at you. Resistance training can even help to lessen the symptoms of arthritis.

Cardiovascular exercise burns calories in the short term, and is also good for the health of your heart and lungs. If you have high blood pressure, are overweight, or have breathing difficulties, then light cardiovascular exercise, with the approval of your doctor, can be incredibly beneficial. You should exercise at least three times per week.

Exercise You Can Enjoy

One of the biggest challenges with starting a new fitness routine is finding something that you will stick to. Most people struggle to stick with running, aerobics or weight lifting because they do not find spending time in the gym exciting or enjoyable. Instead of doing exercise for the sake of it, why not try a fun fitness class such as Zumba, or take up a martial art or a sport that you already like watching? If you have a motivation to go to the gym beyond the simple issue of exercise, you will be more likely to go even if you are tired, stressed or busy. That motivation could be training with friends, looking forward to a big match, or not wanting to let your team down.

The sooner you start exercising, the greater the benefits will be, but it is never too late to start. The human body is incredibly resilient, and with determination, anything is possible. Don't delay, start your new fitness regimen today.