4 Tips to Stay in Shape with a Busy Life

Staying active throughout the week is part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Easier said than done for those gym haters out there. But studies have shown that skipping out on strength training and cardio workouts can lead to heart disease, depression and osteoporosis.

Pretty scary, right?

You don’t need to make your exercises complicated. Life is already confusing enough; keep it simple when you head to the gym. CrossFit champ and elite athlete, Jason Khalipa, tweeted: “Sometimes the best workouts are when you are a bit rushed. Short and sweet. Intensity gives great results.”

Below are some super simple tips that even the most amateur gym dude/gal can use when heading to the gym:

1)     Focus on intensity, not time.  It’s not about how long you workout for, but how hard you push yourself. If you’re working out for over an hour and you’re not breaking a sweat, your heart isn’t pumping or your muscles aren’t aching, then you’re not working hard enough.

2)     Push yourself harder. When you finish your workout, ask yourself “did I push myself as hard as I could without injuring myself?” If the answer is yes, then you’re doing something right.

3)     Always keep your workouts fun. If you’re not having fun while doing it, while do it at all?! CrossFit and MMA trainers, for instance, should push you to new levels that you wouldn’t experience elsewhere. Their routines are typically always changing and they always try to encourage their clients to push themselves, while having a good time.

4)     You can get fit in 30 minutes, 3 days a week. You don’t need much more time than that to stay in shape, if you push yourself. But you’ve got hit it hard. Listen to music on your iPhone to get you pumped up. You just need to move. Whatever it is: squats, sit ups, push ups, jumping jacks…when you feel your heart start to race, you’re on the right track.

If you’re toying with the idea of implementing high-intensity circuits with a short-time frame into your routine, then a CrossFit program may be for you. If you’re just not into pushing yourself to the max in a small period of time, and would rather learn practical skills for everyday use, then maybe try a Martial Arts program. A great gym, with a holistic approach to fitness, should offer a little something for everyone. Follow these tips, stay in shape, and your life should generally be happier…and longer.



Photo courtesy of Geek Philosopher

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