Why, when and how to start your fitness routine
Busy nurses have demanding jobs, not only mentally and emotionally, but also physically. That’s why being physically fit is not a luxury, but a necessity for a successful career in nursing.
Perhaps you’re a nurse who has a growing family to take care of. Did you ever wonder why, during emergency instructions, flight attendants tell you to apply your own breathing apparatus before helping others, including any children who are traveling with you? The reason is simply that, if you pass out, you can’t help anyone else. Well, the same rule applies to your health and fitness. Taking care of your own health is paramount to being able to take care of your loved ones. Being physically fit often makes the difference between being wasted at the end of the work day and having enough energy to spend quality time with your family.
When should you start your fitness program? There really is only one appropriate time to start. That time is now. If you’re not willing to start today, then you haven’t fully committed to why you need to start.
The only question left is how to start your fitness program. Following are four guidelines to getting started.
- Make health and fitness a priority.
Making fitness a priority means putting it in your schedule and blocking out enough time to get it done. Experts say that any amount of exercise is beneficial, but they also recommend getting at least 150 minutes each week. That can be achieved by exercising five times each week for 30 minutes (or six times for 25 minutes).
Keep in mind that two 15 minute workouts provide the same cumulative benefits as one 30 minute workout. That means you can achieve your daily requirement by combining fifteen minutes of morning exercises with another fifteen minutes in the evening.
- Think outside the gym
The sheer logistics of going to the gym have prevented countless people from starting a fitness program. Fortunately, modern technology has totally eliminated that excuse. All you need is a few square feet of floor space and a video tape by a fitness expert whose program not only gets results, but also helps you enjoy your workouts.
It’s amazing that a single workout session with your favorite video might actually require less time than it takes to drive to the gym. And, with the correct video, you’ll be following a routine that has already been proved successful for thousands of people.
- Find a coach
The benefits of using a fitness coach are manifold. Coaches not only help you wade through the flood of information about health and fitness, but they also provide feedback about your progress. Equally important, they offer encouragement at every stage of your journey….from your first workout up to that last stubborn pound or inch.
Thanks to the internet, you don’t have to live near the fitness coach who works with you. They can provide advice, feedback and encouragement no matter how far apart you are.
- Be Consistent
Consistency is the key to success with any fitness program. And, you are more likely to be consistent and, therefore, successful if you enjoy your workout.
No one wants to be reminded of how much out of shape they are. That’s why an enjoyable workout lets you start from your present fitness level. That is, you do as much of the routine as you are able and pat yourself on the back every time you finish a session. The biggest reward, however, is knowing that your health and fitness increases with each day, week and year you stick with the plan.
Getting Started
There are several traits that make a fitness coach successful. The first is that she is passionate about physical fitness. The second is that she practices what she preaches. Finally, she has been where you are, so she understands the challenges that you face. If you are reading this blog, then you are undoubtedly interested in starting your journey to better physical fitness. Contact me today for more information on how to get started.
Teri
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