Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I increase my fitness?

    Related Topic
    Fitness and Sports Medicine
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Sports Medicine Australia

    Sports Medicine Australia is Australia’s peak national umbrella body for sports medicine and sports science, and is widely acknowledged overseas as the world’s leading multi-disciplinary … View Profile

    The key to increasing your level of fitness is to commit to a lifestyle change. Being aware of the nutrition you are fuelling your body with and the amount of physical activity you are getting on a daily basis are key steps to increasing your level of fitness.
     
    1.       Write down your fitness goals. This will help you focus on why you want to increase you fitness, besides the overall health benefits. Be sure you are fuelling you new fitness plan with proper and healthy nutrition.
     
    2.       Begin or ramp up your exercise program. Many people who are fit already exercise already, but sporadically. To increase your fitness level you need to start exercising regularly, as part of your daily routine. Check with your doctor to be sure it is safe for you to begin an exercise program.
     
    This plan should include - Frequency, Time, Duration, Location, and Type. Set aside a certain time of the day that will be used just for fitness with no interruptions.
     
    Find a workout partner. This will help you stay on track. Find someone else who is thinking about ‘getting fitter’ and set some goals together.
     
    3.       Review your progress regularly. Monitor your weight, body fat percentage and resting heart rate. Start with some benchmark testing such as max push up or pull up test.
     
     
    4.       Never overdo it. This is a big reason why many do not continue with an exercise program. Start off slow, and add intensity slowly over time.
     
     
    5.       Set attainable short term goals. Be realistic, if the goal is to lose 20 kg do not expect that result in a week. That is not realistic nor is it safe. Write down your goals, and refer to it often to keep yourself on track.
     
     
    6.       Most importantly find an exercise plan that is fun. If you like to bike or swim, make sure that it is part of your routine. Whatever your exercise interests are be sure to include, strength, resistance, and flexibility training.
     
    7.       Stick with it: Exercising more often should not be a short term fad but more of a lifestyle. Yes workouts get overlooked on occasion simply due to our busy schedules but if they become more of a priority you will miss less. Use variety to keep it interesting. Like to run? Try a new route, enter a race. Anything it takes to stay on track.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices