10 Things You Can Do to Get Fit

We all know that physical fitness is important to maintaining overall health, but statistics show that an alarming number of Americans are out of shape. According to a 2005 study conducted by Northwestern University and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, at least 8.5 million adults and 7.5 million adolescents in the U.S. are out of shape.

There are a number of things that you can do to turn your health around, and here are some tips to get you started. These are simple lifestyle changes that you can make that will get you more physically active and improve your fitness levels.

1. Change your method of transportation – Instead of taking the car to run your next errand, ride a bike or walk. Your body will appreciate the exercise and you will get to your destination by your own power!
2. Park at the end of the parking lot – When you do need to take your vehicle out for a trip to the grocery store or on another errand, don’t look for the closest parking spot to the door of the shop. Instead, park at the end of the parking lot and make those extra steps!
3. Use a pedometer – According to the CDC, you should be taking at least 10,000 steps each and every day. To ensure that you reach these goals, use a pedometer to see how many steps you’re taking and adjust accordingly.
4. Join a gym – Some people need to feel obligated to get out and exercise. Joining a gym or signing up for a fitness class can make you feel like you’re wasting your money by skipping your workout. It will give you the extra push out the door that you need!
5. Make exercise fun – If you don’t enjoy exercising at a gym, find other ways to be physically fit. Take up a sport on a team or independently. Joining a local softball league can help to get you fit, or giving tennis a try will get you moving around the court! Any activity you enjoy doing will not feel like a burden, and when it comes time for you to get active, you’ll look forward to it!
6. Bring your family on board – To make new lifestyle changes stick, get your family on board with your new active lifestyle. You’ll pass great habits onto your children, and you’ll enjoy your activities more when in the company of loved ones!
7. Set a fitness goal – If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, like run 10 miles, set that goal and start working towards it. You won’t be able to accomplish it instantly, but it will act as your motivation every time your scheduled workout comes around
8. Make lifestyle changes that are realistic – If you’re simply exercising to lose weight, make sure that you’re not just getting a fast fix. You want to incorporate fitness activities into your life that you will be happy to continue with long-term in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and any weight loss!
9. Get support – The process of losing weight and getting fit is challenging both emotionally and physically. Find friends who will support you during the process, but also ensure that you have a professional or a support group to talk to during the emotional challenges.
10. Join a weight loss retreat – A weight loss retreat will help start you off with new habits that will allow you to meet your fitness and weight loss goals. They will set you up with realistic fitness programs that will work with your lifestyle!