Steps for implimenting an innate physical fitness lifestyle.
Step 1 (0-6 Weeks)
Go outside and breathe deeply twice a day everyday for five minutes with exercise clothes on - preferably first thing in the morning and sometime after dinner. Walk or bike if you feel ready.
Each day increase the amount of time, the distance, or the intensity/pace of your activity - this increment can be as small as one step or one second or as large as you wish. Slow, gradual progression is best.
Try to find a partner or group - create your own if needed!
Try to walk or hike on a trail or on some uneven surface as much as possible.
Practice walking backwards and sideways at least a few steps on every walk.
Walk or bike every day - preferably first thing in the a.m.
Jog or skip a small distance (between telephone poles) as least once on your walk. Gradually increase the frequency and distance of these jogs and/or skips - smile while you skip - add bonus points for singing!
Find some hills or stairs and include this into your routine at least 2 times a week. Even one stair is fine to start!
Walk, bike, or jog every day - preferably first thing in the a.m.
Always include some skipping, hopping, or walking backwards during your walks or jogs.
Continue to progress in intensity and duration of the stairs and/or hills during your walks. You are now phasing these into anaerobic speed workouts. Jog up the hills or the stairs and walk back down and repeat; take as much time between work intervals to recover as you need. Progressively increase the number of intervals on a weekly basis. You can replace the stair or hills with any other anaerobic and speek workout activities. Perform these activites 2x/week.
Continue the strengthening workout 2-3x/week. You should now be performing 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions for each exercise to failure (use enough weight that you could not do another repetition).
Step 4 (24 weeks and onward!)
Walk, jog, or bike every day - preferable first thing in the a.m.
Include at least one interval training session each week (3 minutes as hard as you can followed by 3 minutes of slow recovery). Do at least 6 intervals.
Perform one anaerobic speed or sprint workout each week.
Incorporate as much balance/agility activity into your workouts as possible.
Continue your strengthening workout 2-3x/week. You should now be performing 3 sets or 3-12 repetitions for each exercise to falure (use enough weight that you could not do another repetition).
Remember: Varying your routine is important for both physical and mental stimulation - never do the exact same workout twice in a row.
Remember: Joining a sport or activity that incorporates as many of these fitness components as possible is one of the best things you can do. Do yoga, pilates, or gymnastics.