Staying fit outside the Gym

It is said that the human body metabolism reduces by one to two percent every ten years after crossing the age of twenty years. This means, we need to do more to keep trim and fit. The paradox is that eating and working out habits during the ‘young twenties’ are rarely healthy and are hard to break away from. This combined by the note on slowing down of metabolism makes the thirties a frustrating time for most of us when we have to do more to just look the way we used just a few years earlier! The key is to start early...

But it is better to start early than later. In our endeavour to remain healthy, everybody needs to exercise and burn fat and extra calories. Being thin does not mean you’re fit either. You might have high cholesterol and yet be thin. No, being healthy is way of life. Post thirty especially; annual health checkups are a very good practice. Caution and preparation in this decade will hold you in good stead in your later forties and beyond. Everybody likes to eat junk- fries, burgers, pizza, but we all know that is not healthy. You might indulge once in a while but know that burning those fats is harder in this decade. Start adopting healthy eating practices and find variety in the same, so you don’t find it boring and go craving back to the yummy junk foods.

It takes will power and determination to be healthy, fit and feeling good, positive and bubbling with energy! Yes, exercise might be work and tiring, but the human body releases endorphins which leave you feeling ‘good’ after a workout. That is why exercise is also addictive. You want to keep going back for more because of the feel good factor.

You have to start one day.

It helps if you have a partner who is equally inclined to being healthy and fit. For those who can’t stand the monotony of going to a gymnasium and being cooped up inside one for hours, there are many other options to work out.

Well, for starters you have a host of home videos for workout in your personal home space. That way you can start anytime ! With the advent of Wii and X Box –Kinect, ‘home gym’ has been given a totally new definition and experience. With the Kinect, you don’t even need to hold any remote , it is motion sensor based. It will even instruct to bend further or jump higher if you’re not up to the mark, it is that effective! You have a host of programs to choose from on the X Box fitness DVD- exercises specifically for legs and arms, upper body, post baby etc etc. Try it out!

If you’re not the exercise type at all, maybe you like playing some sports? Whether it is tennis, badminton, swimming, volleyball or basketball? Make it a habit to take out time during the work week to spend at least two hours playing some sport. It is great if you find like minded people and a dedicated area to catch up on some exercise during the work week. Don’t wait for the weekend. A competitive sport takes the boredom away and you are engaged in some good cardio for the heart. Find any sport you enjoy and make it a part of your daily routine, staying healthy couldn’t get any easy and happier!

When you start doing all this and enjoying it too, it becomes a part of your life. It becomes a way of life. You also realize that you are consciously eating healthy, after a great game you don’t want to eat deep fried food , rather you go for that healthy soup. You end up mixing and interacting with a group of like minded people who are also interested in being healthy and remaining fit. Your social group might grow here and this also becomes a part of your life.

You really don’t have to head to the gym to remain fit. Personally , I detest the closed gym feeling. I rather take my bicycle out and ride around the lake or pick up a tennis or squash racquet and hit around for an hour. Even brisk walks with music in your headphones are a better option any day than costly gym fees.

But at the end of the day, the choice is individual. The aim is to be healthy and fit and whatever suits you, you should adopt. It is your body, your life...go live it healthy and happy!