Whether it’s to look better in a pair of fitted jeans, or to have more energy while strutting in sassy 3 inch heels, women across the globe are wanting to reach their fitness goals this year. There are countless ways to make this goal a successful manifestation. The questions is which to rely on.
Reaching Your Fitness Goals
Nearly half of all Americans have gained unexpected weight due to lockdowns. Step counting was going for an all time downhill run: no one was pushing strollers at parks, running along hiking trails, having a blast at a fitness class, or running on the treadmill at the gym. A sedentary lifestyle was becoming more prevalent. During one of last year’s lockdowns, one busy mom found inspiration to continue to stay fit. Nicole Pekerman, a health and fitness guru, started working out at home. She shared “One day while I was on the treadmill, my child said to me Mom wouldn’t it be great if you could get paid for working out.” It was at that moment that a lightbulb went off. Pekerman decided to launch her company, Paid Workout, a fitness app designed to help others stay motivated by earning cash winnings to reach their fitness goals.
What motivates a woman is vastly different than what motivates a man. We’re feelers…being a part of a community is important. That’s why the majority of group exercise classes are usually filled with women to get that support or to meet new friends. Some are still hesitant to get back into the classes but are desiring that community and motivation. Consider these three ways to reach your fitness goals this year regardless of your current situation.
Find a Fun Motivator
Thanks to an app called Paid Workout, it’s taking people from the couch to their workout. Money and community are two of the huge motivators. People are able to join the app and compete with others desiring the same goal to get fit and win cold hard cash doing it. That’s right! Who doesn’t want to get paid to get fit?! For some, it’s more than the thrill of winning money, it’s about the community and support. Not to mention, the trained coaches that possess the expertise to help the community members surpass their goals. Joining an app that will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle through incentives, support, and community is a great way to reach your fitness goals. This is behavioural economics at its best, using incentives as a commitment device.
Join the Virtual Workout Party
The virtual world of working out is only advancing and getting better. Having the ability to access a coach or a workout class at your fingertips is a great way to keep you accountable to your goals. It is usually cheaper than joining a gym. It’s also more time effective for busy moms and professionals. You don’t have to drive anywhere or feel self-conscious. From the comfort of your home, you can have a great workout.
Challenge Yourself
It’s important to approach your fitness goals as a challenge you’re ready to take on. If you are not willing to put in the work, don’t expect to see the results you’re looking for. For example, if you’ve been using the same weight for years without a sweat, it’s time you increased it. In addition, if your treadmill stays constantly at the same speed and you can carry an entire conversation for 20 minutes, it’s time you took it up a notch. Be sure you work up a sweat and give that heart rate a great increase.
Going into a new year is always exciting. It starts full of possibilities and with exciting goals to reach. They may not be easy, but they are attainable. Especially with innovative apps that are available to help make working out fun. It no longer has to be a dreaded task. Competing against like minded individuals to not only get fit, but win money, is a challenge people are
ready to take on.
Breathe in the Oxygen
Have you seen anyone wearing unusual oxygen masks as they workout? If not, you are sure to encounter this soon and when you do, there is no need for alarm. It’s called oxygen-enhanced exercise, and it’s a holistic approach to fitness that has recently skyrocketed in popularity.
It once was available and common only with Olympians and pro athletes. This training method has hit the mainstream and now at-home-exercisers are using it as an all-natural way to gain an athletic advantage. Oxygen-enhanced exercise is a scientifically proven phenomenon:
- reduces the physical stress of exercise
- accelerates
recovery: - restore pre-exercise ATP levels
- helps your liver break down lactic acid into simple carbohydrates.
- helps you sleep
- gives you more energy
- improves your metabolism
- maintain pH balance
- increases neuronal energy metabolism in the brain
- strengthens the immune system by killing harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi
- detoxifies the blood
- enhances exercise
- strengthen endurance
- lower lactic acid production
- improve stamina for cardio-centric activities
Avoid Wear and Tear
We all know breathing oxygen keeps us alive. Not all breathing is created equal. Just because you are breathing air, doesn’t mean that you are getting all of the holistic health benefits that proper breathing offers. It’s easy to underestimate just how much it impacts our overall health and fitness.
Breathing expert Michael Grant White says that oxygen is crucial for peak athletic performance, especially for the wear and tear on the body. Lack of oxygen ages the body at a much greater rate. Take from someone’s who’s plagued with knee injuries.
Also, drinking prebiotics and probiotics supplements can also help maintain a balanced pH level, reducing your risk of vaginal infections, promoting gut health, and aiding your fitness journey!
Oxygen-enhanced Exercise
There are breathing exercises you can do to enhance your workout. Many athletes are turning to oxygen-enhanced techniques as a way to amplify their workouts without the use of drugs, chemicals, surgery, or invasive techniques. Too bad I just found out about this.
During exercise, your muscles have to contract and work harder, which increases their demand for oxygen. The amount needed is much more than you are taking in. Your body first burns the existing oxygen in the red blood cells and when this runs out, the body turns to fermentation for its energy needs. Instead of using oxygen, the muscles convert glucose into lactic acid and this is when fatigue sets in. Oxygen-enhanced exercise leverages the body’s already-existing system for oxygenating the blood before this happens.
Mindful Breathing Techniques
It may make people self-conscious to wear one. Luckily, with home-workouts, there is no one but you watching. Yet, if you’re not ready to sport an oxygen mask, you can still enhance your workout through mindful breathing. According to research, proper breathing should be one of your main focuses during exercise.
Simple breathing techniques can help anyone at any level of fitness recover more quickly. During exercise, your muscles have to contract and work harder, which increases their demand for oxygen. The amount needed is much more than you are taking in. Your body first burns the existing oxygen in the red blood cells and when this runs out, the body turns to fermentation for its energy needs. Instead of using oxygen, the muscles convert glucose into lactic acid and this is when fatigue sets in. Oxygen-enhanced exercise leverages the body’s already-existing system for oxygenating the blood before this happens.
The Gist of it
Finding new ways to stay accountable and motivated will help you reach your fitness goals. It just takes a little strategy and planning. Think outside of the box: challenge yourself, find a motivator and go virtual! You just might surpass your goals and win money along the way. To help you with exceeding your fitness goals, opt for scientifically proven phenomenon that benefits the body. Try oxygen-enhanced techniques to reduce physical stress of exercise, accelerate recovery, sleep better, getting more energy, and improve your metabolism.
What are some tips you suggest to crush your fitness goals this year?
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