Top 10 Rules to Good Fitness

Reps/sets or speed/time are relative to each individual's goals, needs and exercise level. Anyone striving for a healthy and fit lifestyle needs to focus on the general rules to make fitness a priority in their life.

1. No negative self-thoughts! Focus on what can be accomplished and the commitment to a healthy body.

2. You Can do this. Repeat. Positive affirmations and mental acceptance provide the power to carry through the struggles and challenges of making changes to a current lifestyle.

3. Calendar is flexible. Adjust workouts around the days based on what is happening in your life.

4. Live in the moment. This is not a race. The body is forgiving of slips and errors. It's not cause to give up.

5. You should feel tired and worked during a session but never hurting. If you experience any pain, nausea, shortness of breath, or anything alarming, STOP!

6. Push slightly beyond your comfort zone. To complete a workout, reduce the intensity until you can resume pace.

7. Form is more important than repetitions. To prevent injury and work muscles, remain true to form. Unable to complete 10 reps? That's okay, you've exhausted the muscle to the maximal effort and received the same benefit.

8. Your actions are in pursuit of a lifetime commitment. If you do not enjoy an activity, then it is important to make changes. Discover and pursue the things you enjoy to maintain and further enhance fitness over time.

9. Your exercise time is a priority. Moms are notorious for placing themselves last. In less than an hour a day, make yourself the number one priority. The whole family will benefit.

10. Have Fun. Enjoy the freedoms to walk, run, play, be strong, and love life.


That first peak is the best place to pause and look back, to see if you took the easiest route, to learn the lessons from the first climb. And it is the best place to examine the terrain ahead, to change your plans and goals, to take a deep breath and begin climbing again.
- By Michael Johnson

Picture acquired from Flickr, Trebol Azul