Right about this time every year, people who make it through cold winters start to shed clothing. This can feel good or bad depending how you feel about your body. Let’s face it. The pandemic made most people a little ‘softer’ than usual. But that can be changed pretty quickly if you follow the ‘Spring Shape Up Checklist’ items posted here that I asked HEALTHYFIT to put together for us.
Follow it and share it with anywho could use a boost.
If you’re like me, the first warm Spring day is a loud wake up call (scream) to try to speed things up a little (understatement) to get into better physical shape as fast as reasonably possible. I’m not sure ordering from the Venus Swimwear catalog right this moment is reasonable but I’m keeping it handy because hey you never know.
Noticeable fitness progress can be made pretty quick! According to HEALTHYFIT Fitness Director Jamie Levine, if you just start ‘moving’ you’ll move in the right direction and everything will start to tighten up and things will start to snowball in a really good way!”
Ever since I started ‘slowly’ returning to the gym because I felt I needed to so ‘something’, I feel better about myself. I want to encourage others who are trying to get back in shape after the ‘twilight zone’ last few years to just GET MOVING. It matters. Whether you’re struggling with body image, mental strength, a little depression or just the desire to feel more alive again, you owe it to yourself to make some moves. Speaking of moves, all of of a sudden I’m bending to pick up stuff without grunting! Somebody call Page SIX in the Post.
Now Back to That List!
HEALTHYFIT Fitness babe Jamie Levine says, ‘ideally’ we should follow the checklist list all year long. (She’s very nice but all I’m saying here is let’s just reboot and start somewhere to speed things up a little)
Water! Water! Water! Thats a big mention because dehydration zaps your energy. Water flushes out fat, and it’s great for metabolism. I have trouble drinking enough water but I’m trying harder. Jamie says, says people who don’t drink enough water are usually drinking something else and if you replace all your other liquids with water for ‘a while’ it’ll show in your face and skin. A nicer face is a nice incentive. (BTW why the hell wine goes down so easy I’ll never know.)
Your diet does play into how fast you get into shape. James says, if your diet is crap it’s going to be a huge obstacle to your progress. She mentioned….
“There’s a Saying in the Gym…You Can’t Out Exercise a Bad Diet”!
And about those 10,000 steps a day? Honestly for most mortals I know hitting this number is nearly impossible unless you’re forcibly walking in a desert somewhere looking for water. When I try and can’t live up to that steps number, I do end up feeling a little frustrated and occasionally also end up in a pizzeria. But fine fine, if you try harder I’ll try harder.
Jamie points out, the fittest people in the world are people who walk everywhere. She also mentioned she actually knows people who get off off their couches at night and go out and walk the last couple thousand steps to make the 10,000. (Must be their couches.)
Oh and as for the body parts you’ll be able to see a difference in sooner than later? Jamie says, ‘The limbs’! (yes including the ones that stick out of sleeveless shirts) In this podcast she discusses lifting weights and why you might want to go heavier than you thought you should.
Anyway …Cheers to Spring. And to this Spring Shape Up Checklist.
This fitness information is ‘gender friendly’. However If you’re woman looking to check out an all women’s gym and happen to live in the Mamaroneck, N.Y. area, I highly encourage you to just show up and walk in to HEALTHYFIT , The address is 1000 East Boston Post Road. Just walk in and look around and try it out for free. That’s what I did . No Drama. No Pass Necessary. If you’re elsewhere in the country just walk in to any gym that appeals to you and see how you feel in there.
Fitness Expert Jamie Levine says, “Any gym that doesn’t let you try it first is not worth it.”
Hoping to motivate some new people wherever you are with our straight up shape up podcast conversation. Enjoy!
