Summer is here! And if you’re not ready, no worries, there’s still time to get in shape for the pool or beach, plan your family vacation, and...schedule summer camp!
But what does getting into shape mean; looking good in a bathing suit, being fit enough to run, bike, swim, walk, or hike with friends, and family, or complete an endurance event?
How do you get into shape? There are so many exercise and diet programs, how do you know which one is right for you? And does being “fit” mean you are “healthy”?
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Fitness can be broken into 3 parts; muscle, cardiovascular and mental. Being fit in only one or two of these areas does not equate to being healthy. You need to train all three aspects to be “fit and healthy”.
Research experts are saying...
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Inactivity or sitting all day is one of the worse thing for you...even if you exercise. Check out “Sitting All Day” at NPR
Training for endurance events may make you fit but not necessarily healthy
Just because you are training and burning lots of calories doesn’t mean you should eat anything you want
Recommendations:
If you sit all day, get up for 5 minutes every 20 minutes; stretch, go for a walk, get a drink of water, march or jump in place
The American Heart Association, American College of Sports Medicine and the Center For Disease Control all recommends accumulating 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days per week. Yes, short bouts of activity, accumulating 30 minutes each day (10 minutes of brisk walking 3 times per day) with a weekly goal of 150 minutes is all you need to be healthy. Easy, right?
To improve performance, “You’re only as good as your last meal”. This article in Outside magazine, focuses on nutrition from the US Olympic Training Center. Learn to eat like an olympic athlete, embrace whole foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean protein (chicken, fish, beans), and reduce processed foods
As a profession Martial Artist and author of “It’s Not About The Belt...You Don’t Need A Black Belt To Act Like One”, I am both a student and teacher of learning to train the body, mind, and spirit. Enjoy the read, make sure you have enough moderate activity in your daily life, eat whole foods, and get fit AND healthy.
While I can’t plan your summer vacation, I do provide a safe, feel good environment for your child’s summer camp experience. If you are still looking for a summer camp, then consider visiting my school to explore the UMAC Summer Camp, After-School Program, and UMAC Family Program to see if learning Taekwondo is right for your and your family.
Look for my weekly blog every Monday providing insights on "Living a Black Belt Life" and feel free to share this with your friends and family, leave a comment, or recommend this article.
Thank You!
