Let me help you get over this hump.
First, jot down 4 reasons why you have not been physically active.
Then come up with four responses to these excuses to get past those reasons Telling yourself that you have not been active in a long time and it does not make sense for you to change at this time in your life is a very popular reason for not getting active.
Now, try doing something you really enjoy to get you started.
It may be skipping, riding a bike, walking in a mall or doing dance aerobics in a class.
Another good excuse is saying you do not have enough time.
I bet you could come up with three 10-minute time frames for being physical.
Walk up and down 4 flights of stairs as many times as you can in those 10 minutes.
Lots of people are saying that working out costs too much because you need to join a gym, take classes or buy a bike so you can ride it.
The truth is getting physical does not have to cost you anything.
You do not have to join a health club or get fancy equipment.
Even if you can only squeeze in 10 minutes on the treadmill before you leave in the morning that is 10 minutes of exercise you have not done previously.
Your muscles need to work what ever your age.
For younger bodies, aerobic activity, such as jogging or tennis may be enough to maintain weight and body strength.
As you get older, however, the emphasis shifts from building up the foundation to protecting what you have.
Although aerobic activities are important for strengthening the heart and lungs, helping to prevent obesity and lowering your risk of many diseases, middle aged and older people also need exercise designed to preserve and enhance strength.
Without exercise muscle power fades with age.
In fact, strength begins to decline in your 30s.
Between age 50 and 70, strength can decline by 15 percent each decade and plunge even more.
That is where the stereotyping comes from of weakness in old age.
That is why strength training to reverse those losses should become part of your routine from midlife on.
Here are some benefits that you can get from active living:
- Be healthier
- Increase your chances of living longer
- Feel better about yourself
- Have less chance of becoming depressed
- Sleep better at night
- Help you to look good
- Be in shape
- Get around better
- Have stronger muscles and bones
- Help you stay or to get to a healthy weight
- Be with friends or meet new people
- Enjoy yourself and have fun.