Visiting a Fitness Store

 

Getting into shape is a goal for many adolescent and adult Americans, whether to lose body fat, fit into a smaller dress size, or develop muscles for sports or just the good looks. Whatever the reason, getting into shape and working out is always a great idea, and the health benefits of exercise are nearly comprehensive for a person’s well being. One motivation may be to fight back against the rampant obesity rates in children and adults alike in the United States, and going to fitness stores is a great way to launch a personal fitness program. Sports stores are a similar route to take for fitness; soccer, basketball, touch football, hockey, rugby, and more can burn fat, build muscles, and most of all, are great fun and can enhance teamwork skills. How can fitness stores help someone get in shape? What the health benefits?

Obesity VS Exercise

It is little mystery that rates of obesity (and thus related diseases) are getting serious. One culprit is kids and adults alike not getting enough physical activity in their daily or weekly lives. The US. Department of Health and Human Services reported that under 5% of adults take part in 30 minutes or more of physical activity per day, and only one in three get the recommended amount of exercise per week. Children are doing no better; many of them spend 7.5 hours per day on electronic screens, ranging from televisions to personal computers to handheld devices, and one in three high school students spends three or more hours per day playing video games, a purely sedentary activity (with occasional exceptions such as Dance Dance Revolution). Obesity increases risks of ailments such as arthritis and joint pain, stroke, and heart attack, not to mention diabetes.

Exercise, meanwhile, is a common remedy to obesity, and when paired with an improved diet and healthy sleep habits, can go a long way to burn excess fat and restore a person’s BMI, or Body Mass Index, to healthy levels. Cutting fast food and highly processed foods from one’s diet, such as sugars, fats, and enriched grains, and replacing them with more natural food improves nutrition and slows down weight gain. Exercise of all kinds, from sports to martial arts like kickboxing or karate to aerobics like swimming, jogging, and bicycle riding will burn calories, reduce fat, and improve the heart’s strength. Exercise can also improve mood and make a person tired enough to sleep better at night, and it boosts a person’s metabolism as well as developing muscles in different parts of the body. Some activities such as jogging require no equipment, while others may require a sport ball or more specific gear. What should a person get?

Exercise Gear

Any of the fitness stores in a person’s area should have all kinds of equipment for exercise, whether for a beginner or someone undertaking a serious workout regimen. Home fitness can be made easy, provided a person has the space and time in which to exercise, and the right equipment besides. A simple jump rope allows a person to work out the leg muscles as well as coordination, and a medicine ball can be used to work out the upper body. Dumbbells are great for upper body strength exercises like curls or other motions, and an ab wheel allows a person to roll the wheel out and return to position, working out their core. A high bar allows a person to perform chin-ups, and a full bench press bar enables bench press lifts, as well as dead lifts if so desired, and the weight on these bars is totally customize-able. Workout clothing can be found at fitness stores too, such as athletic shoes, shorts, and shirts and tank tops that breathe well for when a person warms up and sweats during the workout. Various clothing brands offer such garments for any home gym enthusiast.

A person may want to consult his or her physician before starting a serious workout regimen, especially if he or she has health conditions. A bad back, elevated risk of heart disease, recent surgery, pregnancy, and age can all impact what a person can safely do during a workout or what they should not do, and their physician can outline guidelines for the person’s needs.