Fitness Strategies

Lesson 4: Into the Future

Fit For Life

Someone, somewhere, asked an expert which was the best exercise of all.

The expert replied: "The one that you'll do."

The expert was right. The possibilities for exercise are just about endless. You can paddle a canoe, row boats, ride horses, play cricket, squash, football or soccer, climb mountains, go hang gliding, learn ballet or boxing or skating or study martial arts.

All of these activities are good exercise for some people, but they all have drawbacks.

Boating of any kind relies on the availability of a boat and a body of water. If you live next to a river and moor your dinghy a few minutes' walk from your house, then this is no problem, but if you must load up the boat and drive to the river you will often find it too much hassle to bother.

Horse riding, hang gliding and skating also require a suitable venue and quite expensive equipment. They are likely to require travel as well, unless you have a horse, rink or cliff top right outside your house.

Boxing, ballet and martial arts require equipment, talent and usually travel. You must also be available at set times for sessions or lessons, which can be costly.

Team sports of all kinds mean relying on other people, and belonging to a team fences you in to set times and places.

All these activities have their places, and many people enjoy them, but fitness is something that should be a lifelong interest. In most sports or leisure activities there comes a time when participants give up. Age, increased responsibility, injury, family commitments, a change of job or home or lack of finances all play their parts in the decision to give away a leisure/sporting activity.

It isn't uncommon to find people in their sixties riding horses, playing golf or bowls, but it is uncommon to find them boxing, dancing ballet or playing football. Surely, therefore, it is a good idea to find a form of exercise that you can carry out at any age, in any climate and wherever you happen to live. It is even better if you can avoid expense and if you don't need to rely on other people.

That is why I have chosen to concentrate on walking, jogging and weight training in this course and in my own life.

Just because you don't need other people to participate in these activities doesn't mean you must do them alone. You can often find a friend or family member (not necessarily human!) who would enjoy them too. Walking with someone else is fun, and you can converse just as well over a brisk walk as over a cake and coffee. Don't, though, fall into the trap of constantly adjusting your timetable to suit someone else. If you want to walk at ten o'clock each morning, do so. If your friend can't make it until half past, arrange for him/her to meet you halfway.

Value Adding.

Value add to your walks or weight sessions by listening to music or audio books as you go. That way you can catch up on your reading as well.

Setting Goals.

Set yourself goals of so many km or hours of exercise per week and do your best to stick to them. Get into the habit of walking whenever and wherever you can. Keep your weights in a visible and easily accessible place in the house to make it easy to remember to use them. If you tidy them away out of sight they might also slip out of mind. Next time you fancy a chocolate bar, walk or jog to the shop to buy it. While you wait for a face pack to do its job, dance to your favourite CD. Surprise your favourite person with a moonlight walk instead of a box of chocolates. And next time the dog greets you with that hopeful face, buckle on its collar and go out for a walk. Build these habits into your life and reap the benefits.

It is small things like this that make the difference between being fit for a month or so, or fit for life.

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