Getting into a workout routine is difficult, I know. It’s pretty much a lifestyle change; you need all the encouragement that you can get. That’s why I gave you an easy introduction last week. Hopefully, by now, you’ve had your first 4 or 5 days or exercise. Bravo! I’m so glad for those of you who have started out a routine (For the other set of people, I say prayers for you every day). Like you might have discovered, there are several ways in which we can exercise our bodies. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to lose all those holiday pounds, then aerobics is the way to go.
Basically, aerobic exercise is a very low intensity process. It is also known as cardio-respiratory exercise because it improves your body’s oxygen consumption by getting your heart rate up. It builds up your endurance and keeps you active for a long time. Aerobic exercise is usually low in intensity but long in duration; say about 45-90 minutes, during which you exercise at least one muscle group for at least 15 minutes. To get you started out, here are the top 5 ways you can engage in aerobic exercise.
1. Cycling. Cycling is a great way to exercise your body. It’s probably even the best form of aerobic exercise out there due to it’s wide spectrum of resistance levels.. Cycling engages your quads, glutes, your core muscles; and if you do it on the elliptical bike, your triceps. It also gets your heart rate up to different levels, as your work over various slopes and intensities.
2. Swimming. Let me start out by saying that if I wasn’t dead scared of getting in the water (feel free to judge me), this would be my major workout. People go on about how fun it is to go swimming and how it just relaxes you and on and on. Well, it turns out that swimming regularly also keeps you in good shape. It’s good for your heart and for your joints and muscles because it doesn’t strain them like running does. The only downside to this is having to find a gym you can stick to (or dating a guy with a pool-house).
3. Kickboxing. If you’ve read 50 shades of grey (unfortunately), then you remember the attractive, but mentally disturbed Christian Grey. One of the ways he looked after himself was by kick-boxing. Kick boxing is a contact sport that basically involves kicking and boxing. You can join a kick-boxing class, or engage in the sport with your partner or workout buddy. It’s a great form of aerobic exercise; you let off a lot of steam and channel all your energy into the routine while also sharpening your self-defense skills.
4. Running. Probably the most popular form of cardio, running exercises almost every (if not every) muscle group in your body. It’s a holistic approach to exercise and is a fantastic way to loosen up at the start of your day. Try running with a partner, or setting a training goal for yourself. Get the Nike+ Running app to keep track of your activity and measure your progress.
5. Group Sports. Football, basketball, volleyball, name it! Group sports help you exercise and have fun with your friends all at once. Join a team to start out with your favourite team sport. Don’t just watch the game, play it too! Doing it with friends, helps you keep your focus and commitment. 
Why not try a few of these out and have some fun too? You can share your results in the comment section. Until next time, keep moving people!