A Healthy & Happy 2016 (Pt. 4)

I recently heard one holistic physician say that if she could only take one all-natural remedy to fight cancer onto a desert island, it would be exercise.  That really stuck with me!

Working out is essential to our overall health and happiness.  So, of course, I have to add a post about fitness for the new year! If you already workout regularly, then keep up the good work!  If you don’t, why not make 2016 the year that you make your health a priority?  And you can start with exercise!

Need some good reasons?  Here a just a few:

• Exercise fights against disease.  That physician was right! Exercise is one of the number one things that you can do to prevent various diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  That’s really exciting if you think about it.  You – not your doctor, not some pill – but you have the power to transform your health by getting up and moving.  You may think, “I don’t have the time or the energy to exercise”. But ask yourself this question – do you have the time and energy to deal with a serious illness later on?  I’m certainly not trying to oversimplify serious illnesses.  But I am suggesting that making regular, physical activity a priority can improve your health dramatically.  As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  
• Exercise Puts you in a good mood.  Studies show that exercise is just as effective (if not more so) than antidepressants (only with good side effects!).  Exercise releases feel-good endorphins and can seriously help us release stress.  I always feel better after a good workout!
• Exercise helps you lose weight.  This might seem like a no-brainer, but many people focus on eating and leave exercise out of their fitness equation.  It’s not until they pair healthy eating with regular exercise that they really begin to see changes. If you have weight to lose this year, become a regular exerciser.

To help you with your fitness goals, I created this Fitness Tracker printable.  There are spaces to plan your cardio, strength, and stretching workouts for Monday through Saturday (with Sunday for rest).  For instance, if you want to do cardio on Monday, just write “walk 30 minutes” or the name of the DVD or YouTube workout you plan on doing.  Do the same for strength and stretching.  I recommend 3 days of cardio, 2 days of strength training and one day of stretching for a well-balanced plan. You can switch things up the following week with 3 days of strength training, 2 days of cardio, and a day of stretching.  

There is also space to record your current weight and your goal weight, so you can stay on track each week.

Need more workout ideas?  Check out my YouTube workout planners!  It will get you started on cardio, strength, and stretching workouts to mix up your routine.

So, dust off your treadmills, lace up your running shoes, and let’s get moving for a healthier 2016! What keeps you motivated to stay fit?

Recommended Resources

11 Benefits of Exercise – Start Working Out Today!

How Exercise Prevents Heart Disease

Natural Happiness: The Truth About Exercise and Depression