Health and fitness: This is simple, try to get motivated, put on a cute workout outfit on and do just a few minutes of exercise. Even 5-10 minutes of daily exercise will get you on the right health and fitness program! Walking is great low impact exercise for women!

Are you having problems getting motivated to exercise?  Sometimes it is as simple as putting on your work out clothes.  If you put on the clothes, you may just surprise yourself and get into the mood.  Even just a few minutes of exercise is better than nothing at all.  The key is to follow though and do at least something on a regular basis.  My typical gym attire – tank top and athletic shorts (right out of the 80’s)!

Take a Walk. Walking for exercise is a great, easy way to motivate!

You probably would be surprised to know that I am not one of those fitness women that weight lifts every day like a fanatic.  My approach to exercise is actually quite mellow.  I don’t push myself.  A few days a week I walk for about thirty minutes, usually in the hilly neighborhood where I live.  I also try to get to the gym a few times a week.  Some days at the gym I ride the stationary bike, some days I go on the stair master or treadmill, and some days I go through the nautilus machines using relatively light weights.  I don’t do any free weight lifting.  I do not want to build up too many muscles as I don’t like the extreme fitness look.  I just exercise consistently. 

Moderate exercise over time is the most important exercise secret I can give you

I think the importance of consistently exercising moderately over time far outweighs the importance of how hard you exercise.  In fact, if you exercise too hard core, you will burnout and be less likely to keep it up.  I recommend keeping it safe, easy, fun and enjoyable so that you can stick with it over time. Many women don’t realize that they don’t have to do too much to get into shape. They think all or nothing. Either they do nothing, or they try and turn over a new leave and get into something so time and effort intensive that they quickly tire of because they don’t really have the time to devote to it. There is a middle ground and it’s the ground you want to be on.

You have to find some moderate safe exercise to do that really fits into your schedule.  Some exercise should become part of your life for the long run.  It’s not a two or three month thing.  You really have to find a level of exercise that suits your energy level and that you can and will stick with over time.  If it means taking a quick walk because that is all you have time for, then that is a perfectly fine place to start.  Walking is excellent low impact exercise. You should certainly check with your doctor, but I have read that even seniors with health ailments such as arthritis can benefit tremendously from daily walking for exercise.

Walking is an inexpensive, low-impact healthy exercise for seniors

The only exercise apparel you need for walking is a comfortable pair of tennis shoes or walking shoes that are easy on your feet. If you are getting blisters or foot pain from walking then you should definitely look into getting a more comfortable pair of walking shoes. Walking is relatively easy exercise so if you feel yourself falling off the workout wagon try to squeeze a quick walk into your routine so that at least you are doing something. A little exercise goes a long way. If you are concerned with how many calories you are burning when walking then you can increase your walk time and walk in more hilly areas, both of which will help you burn more calories walking. I personally would not be as concerned with calorie burning as much as I would be concerned with just getting out and taking a walk in the first place. Getting out there is more than half the battle.

Get dressed in workout clothes you can do a quick workout like a short walk. If you want the figure you have to do the exercise – sorry … no shortcuts! Secret to fitness: take a walk