Tina Hallett's Feature Article Sample

Exercise for Women

By Tina Hallett

Women need to stay in shape so they can get to keep up with all they have to do. Whether it’s mothering, working, or volunteering women need more energy, and exercise is the safe, natural way to get that energy—to keep that spark that spark if you will.

Before exercising it might be best to see what you need first. Buy a jogging suite and a pair of athletic shoes, the kind with plenty of support and cushioning; you will need these no matter what exercises you do. Will need to buy exercise equipment or dust off the equipment you already have? Make the time to exercise. Exercise on the days when you have got more free time; if your schedule changes, change the days you exercise to match the new days you have more free time.

Start out slowly. Do not overwork your self at the start or you probably will stop exercising altogether. Let your endurance and strength build up naturally; for example, start out with a slow thirty-minute walk and increase the distance—then start jogging or running. The goal is to give your body time to adapt; slowly increasing your exercise is the tool you use to achieve that goal.

Vary your exercise to keep it interesting. Vary your exercise by the season; for example, jog in the spring, swim in the summer and bike in the fall, and ski in the winter. Vary your exercise by activity level: if you work in an office with an irritating boss all day, you may want to take a karate class to relieve your stress; conversely, if teach aerobics all day you probably don’t need any more exercise. Also vary your exercise according to your age and fitness level; for example, if you are twenty and in good shape, you might like skiing; if you are senior citizen, you probably would prefer an afternoon stroll in the park unless you’ve been into athletics all your life.

The point is to find out what to like, what you need, and what your body can take. Here is another way to look at it: if your knees start hurting, switch to walking instead of running and increase the distance. You could also use an exercise trampoline to take easy on your joints. Don’t forget to warm up first.

Have fun with your exercise. Listen to music or watch television while you exercise; Christian types can provide energizing music without the lewd lyrics. Find some exercise buddies to work out with; have fun together joking and laughing. Work out a schedule so you can exercise with some of them and not alone. You might even want to give your group a name. Being with friends will make the time pass faster. The point is exercise should be fun so that you actually do it.

Having fun will increase the benefits you get for your exercise. Like lower risk of stroke, heart attack, obesity and even diabetes. Try to exercise thirty minuets at least three times a week regularly to ensure getting these benefits. Regular exercise is the key to real change. Getting a check-up is always a good idea before starting any exercise; always follow your doctor’s advice. Do not use crash diets or diet pills to lose weight: they do not work in the long run and can hurt your heart, liver, and kidneys. Add in eating healthy and drinking more water and you are on your way to better sleep, focus, and memory. Continuing these healthy habits can lead to a longer, more productive life.

Your health is important, and so it is worth the time and money to take care of yourself so you can have the energy to take care of others; however, it can be hard to be consistent with life changes. Here are some tips to help. If an exercise buddy cancels your jog, listen to your favorite work-out type instead. If you swamped at work, do a shorter work out but still get some exercise and eat lighter that day.

Remember, make changes gradually. First change your exercise habits, then change your eating habits later. Trying to both at the same time may be too much for you at one time.

Gradual change is permanent change and that is your goal. Be just a little bit healthier than the day before. Once get one area under control you can start on another. You will reach your fitness goals sooner than you think, and exercise will be pleasure instead of a chore.

Keep up the good work.