Making the decision to integrate regular exercise into your daily life can be a life-changing choice.
It’s definitely a smart move to leave lethargy behind and switch to a healthier, more active lifestyle instead of bumming in front of the TV while eating chips.
Nevertheless, exercise can be precarious, especially for people who have specific health issues and those who haven’t done any physical activity for a long time.
Immediately starting a demanding type of workout can lead to serious body injury. It’s important to be familiar with the appropriate steps to take before starting a new exercise regimen.
Free Download: Top 5 Exercise MistakesKnowing Your Limitations For a New Exercise Regimen
If you haven’t heard of PAR-Q, it is the standard used to gauge fitness safety.
This tool is used by health clubs, physical trainers, and even doctors all over the world. The name is short for Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire and it’s usually composed of 5 to 7 questions that can help a person determine if there are any health concerns that need to be addressed before starting a new exercise regimen.
These questions are answerable by yes or no. Here are some of the questions:
- Has your doctor prescribed you with drugs for blood pressure control or any heart condition?
- Are you suffering from any joint or bone problem which could be made worse if you undergo any strenuous physical activity?
- Have you ever lost balance because you felt dizzy? Do you occasionally lose consciousness?
- Have you experienced chest pains in the past even if you’re not performing any physical activity? Do you feel pain in your chest when you perform physical activity?
- Has your doctor diagnosed you as having a heart condition? Has your doctor ordered you to refrain from doing any physical activity that he did not recommend?
If your answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s best to consult your doctor and get cleared before you start with any type of workout.
High-Risk Conditions
There are other high-risk conditions that require a go-signal from the doctor before you begin exercising:
- Being 20 pounds overweight
- Chain smoker
- Suffering from arthritis
- Having high blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Other chronic medical conditions
This doesn’t mean that you can’t do exercise if you’re hypertensive or diabetic. In fact, exercising is more often than not an essential part of treatment for these types of conditions. However, you may have limitations and your doctor is the best person to help you with these special concerns. Obese people are also advised to consult health specialists before embarking on an exercise regimen.
Start Slowly
The rule in exercise is to always begin slowly until you have built enough intensity to level up your workouts. Gradual is the name of the game, not abrupt. Doing a hundred sit-ups on your first day of exercise (although it’s doubtful if you can do it) is a prescription for serious health issues.
Top 5 Exercise Mistakes (Free Download)
Knowing what not to do is as important as knowing how to exercise correctly. Being healthy is about taking action to do more of the right things, and fewer of the wrong things every day. Download my free report, Top 5 Exercise Mistakes to help you avoid more common fitness mistakes so you get the results you deserve.
