Welcome to August with its unrelenting heat that keeps me reassured that summer is still here!
If you have been reading my recent fitness articles, you may have noticed a theme – taking fitness and nutrition to its basic elements. This month, I want to relate fitness to everyday life. I recently had the great opportunity to buy a very large house. Now, I don’t tell you that to brag, but to tell you that when you decide to buy a house and move yourself, you need to be aware of your body, how it works and the limits of your level of fitness.
First, your body is an amazing machine. A-MA-ZING!! Think about the human body and the fact that people have scaled Mount Everest, have accomplished great feats of strength and have pushed the limits of endurance to running a marathon in just about two hours. It’s truly mind blowing what it can do.
Of course, unless you’re an elite-level athlete, I am sure becoming a bodybuilder or running a mile in under four minutes may not exactly be your forte. That’s why I think it’s of utmost importance to relate what you want to accomplish fitness-wise to how you need to function daily. Over the years, I have participated in numerous different fitness programs and have had the opportunity to even create my own. Having been actively involved with health and fitness for over 20 years, I have seen trends gain popularity and then fade away. The good programs and current trends I see, take the program (or at least certain elements of it) and relate it to everyday life.
Simply put, how do the exercises I am performing allow me to function daily? Anytime you start a fitness program, or work on your own thing, try envisioning how each exercise relates to your daily life. As an example, let’s examine a two-handed dumbbell squat. Start with the weight in your hands, by your side and slowly lower yourself down to where your quadriceps are parallel to the floor and then rise back up again. This is an example of picking up the suitcase.
Another exercise is the squat with overhead twist. Start with the dumbbell on the floor on one side of your body, squat down, pick it up with both hands and then twist to the opposite side and raise the dumbbell above your shoulders. These movements mimic picking up a box and putting it on the shelf.
I also walk a set distance/time wearing a weighted vest. This helps build my lung capacity, increases my heart rate, and burns calories. This builds my cardio output keeping my heart healthy which allows me to function at a better physical level and reduce the effects of long hours sitting on a flight deck contributing to blood stagnation.
You can always break down any exercise into its basic elements and then relate that your profession and your avocational activities.
As always you can seek additional guidance from health professionals, wellness coaches and trainers. Come back each month for more areas we’ll look into. You can always reach out through email for ideas on how to create a goal. [email protected]
