Get Your Summer Body Now: Incorporate Fitness Into Daily Life with Edmonton’s Ali Ghani

You might not feel like you need to be working on your summer body at the moment, but it’s still a good idea to incorporate exercise into your everyday life to stay healthy and fit. But as the days grow shorter and people hole up inside to avoid the winter weather (and, these days, thanks to COVID-19), it may seem harder than ever to keep up with an exercise routine.

Ali Ghani, an Edmonton entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast, stresses that it’s actually more important than ever to work exercise into your daily schedule.

“Not only will it help you have more energy to take on any task ahead, exercise is a great stress reliever, too,” Ghani says. “And I think we could all do with a little less stress in our lives these days.”

That being said, Ali Ghani also has some tips on how to make exercise such a regular part of your day, it won’t seem at all like a chore when you really get used to it.

Don’t Push Yourself

When starting out with exercise for the first time, it’s important not to overdo it.  Not only could you increase your chances of getting hurt, you could also burn out too quickly.

“It’s okay to start small,” Ghani says. He advises people to pick a few days a week to exercise and begin with activities you’re already comfortable with or can pick up quickly. “You don’t want to make exercise seem daunting right out the gate,” the business leader notes. “Or you won’t want to continue with it.” In other words, save the complicated routines for later on in your fitness journey.

Pick the Best Time for You

Some people like to start their day by exercising, while others like to fit it in during their lunch break or after work. Whatever time you choose to get moving, make it a priority and one that fits best within your busy day.

“Figure out when exercise works best in your personal schedule,” Ghani says. “If you’re not a morning person, don’t force it. If you want to take advantage of your break in the workday, fit it in then. Don’t make it more stressful than it needs to be.”

Drink, Drink, Drink!

Make sure you’ve always have water on hand for your workouts. You never want to dehydrate during or after exercise. Plus, water regulates your body temperature and keeps your joints lucid.  Keeping hydrated also gives you energy. If you’re not hydrated, your body can’t perform at its highest level.

“It’s important to stay hydrated,” Ghani says. “Again, we are trying to make this a normal part of your day, not something you — and your body — dread. Drink lots of water, and listen to what your body is telling you about when you need it.”

Give Yourself Goals

If you already give yourself a daily to-do list for things you need to get done, why not add to your routine some fitness goals? “You can even choose to reward yourself after a workout to create a more positive correlation to exercise,” Ghani suggests. That can be everything from simply checking it off your list to giving yourself a treat like a healthy snack or an hour of your favorite Netflix series. “Just avoid the sugary snacks,” Ghani teases.

The key thing to remember about exercise is that doing something is always better than doing nothing. Going for a quick walk outside is better than sitting in front of the television.  Even a few minutes a day of activity will help you lose weight and keep healthier than none at all.  Most adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. If you can’t find time, it’s perfectly okay to break up your fitness sessions into small intervals.  Just get up, and get moving!