First Steps to Start Getting in Shape!

New year, new you so stop making excuses!

It doesn’t take a fancy gym to get in shape. The best equipment you have are your own two feet. A brisk walk is one of the best and easiest workouts to incorporate into your daily routine.  It is easy on the joints and requires just a good pair of sneakers.

Helpful tips to get you moving

Become obsessed with your your steps! There are many things on the market to motivate you such as fit bands, but the cheapest is just to download one of the many free apps on your phone. Pacer or Moves are two good options.

Even easier, go old school and put a calendar on your fridge.  Mark each day you exercise with a red pen.  Great reinforcement and motivator!

Set goals.

Start with 5000 steps a day and try to beat your daily count each day.

• Get off the subway or bus at an earlier stop and take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator
• Take a walk on your lunch hour
• Take a nice walk after dinner instead of heading straight to the couch
• Get up a few minutes early and take a walk around the neighborhood or local park
• Recruit a friend. It is always a little more motivating if you have a friend or partner to help encourage each other

Before you know it, you will start noticing firmer thighs and buttocks and a slimmer waistline.

Strengthen your core

Start planking every morning!

This is another quick and easy exercise to do and takes only a minute or two a day. It does wonders to strengthen your core.

• Use the stopwatch on your phone to time yourself.
• Try to hold the pose for 1 minute and add 15 seconds every few days.