10 Things to Know About Fitness
I want to thank you for reading this from the bottom of my heart, as this will be my last column for the Castro Valley Forum (San Leandro Times). All good things must come to an end, so for my final column, I want to remind everyone of 10 important things I hope you’ve learned from reading my columns over the last few years.
If you have chronic pain, start by looking at your posture and movement patterns. Back and knee pain rarely start with back and/or knee issues.
Do something. Anything. Don’t worry about the perfect workout program or diet. Just do something you can commit to doing 100 percent.
You don’t activate your core by sucking it in. While standing, lightly push your fingers into the sides of your abs. Push them out using your core. Notice the pressure that goes from the front of your belly all the way around your back? That’s sound core activation.
Consistency matters above all else.
Sure, age means something, but not nearly to the extent that you may think. There’s no reason that anyone at any age can’t get healthier with exercise.
Having said that, the longer you wait to do something, the harder it is to get started.
Fitness and nutrition are simple—not necessarily easy, but simple. Don’t fall for some complex, overly detailed plan that you likely won’t be able to follow. Remember number 4: Consistency is everything.
Fitness doesn’t always prevent injuries, but it does make you less likely to get them, and they’ll be easier to recover from.
If someone talks about their diet like a religion, back away slowly.
Remember our motto: The most important thing anyone can get from a workout is the desire for another one.
Thank you so much for reading my columns. I hope you learned a few things along the way. Happy holidays!
