Year after year research shows that the most common New Years Resolution made is to EXERCISE MORE. Yet it is also the most common resolution that is abandoned shortly after the New Year. Why is that? Simply put, changing habits is difficult, exercise is uncomfortable and fitness requires commitment.
But I want to tell you that getting healthy and fit does not have to be the insurmountable obstacle that so many have made it out to be. You don’t have to spend hours a day at the gym to drastically improve your health and significantly increase your longevity. 20-30 minutes a day 5-6 days a week of simple stretching movements and getting your heart rate up for at least 15 minutes can add years to your life. But you have to do it every day, and that means creating a new habit.
The first rule to creating a habit is repetition. The only way to make something a permanent part of your life is to do it consistently, every day. It takes about 8 weeks to build a habit. Continue that for 5 years and you’ve made that habit a lifelong change.
So how fit are you? Let’s start with a few simple tests you can do right in your home to determine your current fitness level:
- Can you get up off the floor without using your hands? With bare feet, go from standing to sitting on the floor and back up without using your hands.
- Can you climb 3-4 flights of stairs at a good pace without stopping or being completely winded?
- Can you touch your toes? Sitting flat on the ground with your legs stretched straight in front of you can you touch your toes?
If you answered yes to all 3 — Congratulations! You’re off to a great start! If you were unable to answer “yes” to one or more of these 3 tests, MIXFIT can help. These 3 simple activities of everyday life have been proven to be surprisingly accurate indicators of longevity because there is a direct correlation between mobility and mortality. To learn more about these tests and their impact on longevity, just Google them. The research is fascinating!
So this January let’s get moving! Commit to be fit! Even if it’s only for 15-20 minutes a day. Stick with it and pretty soon you’ll have a healthy habit that becomes a regular part of your life forever.