FIT IN FIVE: Easy does it

By Mohamad Izham Mohlis

Exercise, or getting fitter, is on almost everyone’s to-do list. Mohamad Izham Mohlis suggests five simple steps to help you get started

IN my eight years as a fitness trainer, I’ve seen many people starting to exercise and giving up halfway because they find the routine to be too tedious or they don’t get the results they are expecting.

I feel the best thing to do is to start modestly. And by that I mean starting small. When you think fitness is hard, you tend to give up on the tasks at hand. Because you don’t know how to do it right, you stop halfway and go back to the sedentary lifestyle that you set to change in the first place.

Try these five steps to get you started:

GO FOR GOAL
First, you must set your goal. It means the answer to the question “What do you want to achieve with your exercise?” You may want to lose weight, increase your fitness level, get more muscular, be healthier or simply wish to look good in front of the mirror. Goals give you an aim so it’s easier to stick to it.

COMMUNICATE
With yourself, that is. The second step is to tell yourself that you have made the decision to change. There are people, who, when they set their goals, do not put together those goals, decisions and reasons for change. You have to be precise. For example, tell yourself, “I want lose 10kg so that I can be confident when I’m with my friends.” Losing weight is a mental game, so be mentally strong for it.

SEE THE DOCTOR
After setting your goals and making the decision to change, it is time to see your doctor and get a health screening. This is for setting up a safe and effective training programme. The important information you need include health risk factors, medications you are taking, recent or current illness and injuries, surgery and injury history and also, family medical history. This information will help identify your current fitness level and the most appropriate type and progression of the exercise programme you will embark on.

SPOT CHECK
The next step is to find a suitable place for exercising such as park or a small garden. Find a place that’s most convenient and comfortable for you. Somewhere close to your home or office will be ideal. Check out your nearest gym. If the facilities are good and the environment encouraging, it’s a good idea to join.

PICK A PARTNER
To make sure that you are on the right path and will continue with your training, try to find a partner for your workout. Research shows that having a partner will increase your chances of succeeding in your goals. Having a fitness instructor to guide you is also one of the best ways to make sure you achieve your goals.

GO FOR GOAL

COMMUNICATE

SEE THE DOCTOR

SPOT CHECK

PICK A PARTNER

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FIT IN FIVE: Easy does it

Exercise, or getting fitter, is on almost everyone’s to-do list. Mohamad Izham Mohlis suggests five simple steps to help you get started

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