You Might Not Make It To The Olympics, But It’s Never Too Late To Improve Your Fitness

The Paris Summer Olympics are winding down — and if the athletic performances of the past several weeks have inspired you to get into better shape, you’re not alone.

Even if you don’t have ambitions of entering a major competition, there are some serious benefits to establishing a fitness routine that suits your lifestyle.

Age is just a number

Some of the competitors in this year’s Olympics didn’t start training until well into their 20s. Even if you’re well past that age yourself, you can still make small changes that can have a big impact on your overall fitness.

But for many folks, the temptation to go all in and achieve major breakthroughs on a short time scale can lead to burnout. So if you really want to stick to a program, there are a few ways to improve your chances.

• Follow your bliss: There are countless ways to improve your fitness, so don’t be afraid to try many different forms of exercise until you find one that you truly enjoy.
• Make a commitment: For the first few days, it might be easy to convince yourself to quit your new routine, but research shows you’re much more likely to stick to your goals if you keep going for at least four weeks.
• Set realistic goals: It might be frustrating if you don’t see much progress right away, but if you focus on long-term success it’ll be easier to continue moving forward.

Little things add up

Sure, Olympians typically spend long hours training for years in order to reach the apex of their respective events. But you don’t have to go to such great lengths in order to experience the benefits of working out.

From walking to dancing to mowing the lawn, University of Michigan’s Michelle Segar explained: “Basically, all movement counts.”

Chris Agee August 8th, 2024

Share this story: