There is a direct link between thinking you feel great and physically feeling great.
Lots of fitness gurus talk about aerobics or weight training,
running, cycling, swimming, or other exercise programs; but, few talk
about how you feel emotionally. My contention is that in order to feel
good physically, you have to feel good emotionally. For some, it is a
spiritual thing. For others, it is psychological.
Whether you look for spiritual understanding for inner peace, or some
sort of meditation or philosophy like Buddhism, your body responds to
what your mind tells it. When you feel bad on the inside, you cannot
possibly maintain a healthy body on the outside.
In order to have long-lasting fitness, you have to cultivate a
positive, healthy mindset while you start tuning up your body. It’s the
same for losing weight. You must begin with a positive mental attitude
and an attainable goal.
If you want to lose one-hundred pounds, for example, you have to
clearly state that as your goal– then, break that goal into attainable
interim goals of twenty pounds at a time. Each twenty pounds you drop is
one more positive step toward the ultimate goal of losing one-hundred
pounds.
I set a goal to be in fabulous shape for my sixtieth birthday. I am
well on the way. I am working out with dumbbells and seeing really
fantastic results in just a couple of months. I’ve gained five inches in
my lats. I have gained a lot in my arms, too. The rate I am going, I
will not only meet my goal, I will exceed it.
I have always loved cycling and I have kept in shape over the years
on my bicycles, but, being a road-bike enthusiast, I have not had the
upper body workout that mountain bikers get. Thus, I started weight
training to build up my arms, chest, and back muscles.
Over all fitness starts with a good mental attitude. Find a source of
recreation that keeps you fit, like swimming or cycling, that will burn
away calories and give you a good cardio workout. You can also do
stretches to warm up and cool down in order to prevent injury.
What I like about lifting with dumbbells is that it is typically
lower weight, relatively inexpensive, and you can easily isolate certain
muscle groups and work specifically on those seeing almost immediate
results. And it doesn’t feel so much like work. That’s important if you
want to continue working out. Most people get tired and quit before they
start to see results.
When you get up tomorrow morning tell yourself that it’s going to be a
great day. Make a plan to get fit by finding something you can do that
will, above all, be FUN and keep you in good shape. Then, if you want to
have a muscular body, incorporate a bit of exercise with dumbbells in
your overall strategy and stick with it at least until you start to feel
the results. That will help you keep going.
Check out the book “Living
Room Weight Training: Dumbbell-based exercises and routines for
building strength, getting toned, and achieving the body you want at
home!” by A.K. Davidson.
In the future, I plan to write more about a total fitness plan for
people over fifty-five years old. For now, Just concentrate on fun and
fitness.
