No Clutter Needed: Why Less Is More When It Comes to Fitness

I have been reading about a minimalist movement hitting the country, all about only owning 100 things. Most of us can't commit to that with children and spouses who like toys, jewelry and technology this season, but we can bring it into our lives individually by shopping less, decluttering our homes and lives, and simplifying our workouts.

Less is more when it comes to your fitness routine. I, for one, am sick of products like the Shake Weight, all those machines that take up too much room and only slim your wallet, and fitness classes that combine rollerblading, trampolines, hoops, balance boards, swords, kettlebells, metal pipes and stripper poles ... and that's just the warmup.

I also find that all this complexity scares off people who would like to start a fitness routine but are intimidated by the clutter. This year, resolve to easing your way into a workout. Try out a yoga-for-beginners class, or a simple muscle-sculpting class that uses just your body weight or free weights. There is a reason that biceps curls are still around; they work your biceps well.

It is OK to add a squat to a shoulder press if you can do them together and save time (multitasking), but let's not get crazy and overdo our entry into the new year with a lot of "tools" and "techniques" that can hurt you and cost you hard-earned money this year. Besides that, who wants to buy a DVD or take a class where you feel like the most out-of-shape and uncoordinated person in town?

Moves to ease into an easy fitness routine for your first month of 2011 should include jogging, walking, biking, stepping, triceps dips off a chair or bench, push-ups, biceps curls, upper-back rows, lower-back extensions, overhead presses, squats, lunges, calf lifts, crunches, twisting crunches, and middle and side planks. These moves are so simple, most of you know what they are before seeing photos. If you'd like some photos (I know, back flyes might sound complicated, but they aren't), then email me at nikki@nikkifitness.com for the photos. My free five-minute stretch video is at http://www.YouTube.com/NikkiFitness

So declutter your life and fitness routine this year. Just sweat, get some cardio, build some muscles and stretch. Less is more, and maybe the scale will tell you that, too.

More from Nikki Fitness at www.nikkifitness.com:

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Nicole Glor, aka Nikki Fitness, is a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, writer and publicist living in New York City. Glor, a graduate student, working mom and military wife, inspired Nikki's Military Wife Workout (MWW) for all military wives. Find more articles at her article archive. Learn more at www.nikkifitness.com. 

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