How often do you think about the connection between regular exercise and your heart’s health? If you answer “rarely” or “not at all,” then you may need to shift your perspective. If you want to maintain and improve your heart’s health, then you need to establish a regular exercise routine that gets you up and moving. Try some of the following tips to help you get started.
Check With Your Doctor
Your first step before you begin any exercise routine is to check with your doctor. Visit your family physician or a cardiac specialist like Ian Weisberg to make sure your heart can handle the stress of regular exercise. You can also ask for advice about the best activities, intensity and duration so that your workouts are both effective and safe.
Choose Fun Activities
Next, choose fun exercise activities that you actually enjoy. There is no sense in developing a strenuous gym workout that you hate. You won’t stick with it. Instead, start with walking, dancing, swimming or biking, whatever you like the most. You can alternate activities for variety, too.
If you haven’t done much exercise for a while, be sure to start slowly so that your body can get used to your new activity level. You can add more time, work up to a higher intensity and throw in some weight training as you go. Remember that you don’t have to do everything all at once. Slow and steady wins the exercise and healthy heart race.
Set a Schedule
You should, however, set and stick to a regular exercise schedule. If you don’t get into a solid routine, you’ll soon find yourself skipping exercise sessions. One “break” will lead to another, and pretty soon, you’ll be back to exercising rarely if ever.
So put your exercise sessions right on your calendar, and treat them like you do every other appointment. If something comes up that interferes, reschedule your workout. Don’t just let it slide. There may, of course, be times when you can’t avoid missing a session. But pick up where you left off, and get back into the routine right away.
Exercise With Friends
Finally, to make exercise more fun, work out with friends. Gather with a buddy or in a group to find support, encouragement and laughter. Your workouts will be more enjoyable, and you’ll have someone to hold you accountable for your health goals.
Exercise and Heart Health
Exercise and heart health go together. So talk to your doctor, choose your activities, set a schedule and gather a group of friends. You’ll be well on your way to a fitter, healthier life.
