Editors Note: This is a contribution from Jake O’Callaghan of Slow Change and Zenteen.

Before my injury I was a pretty fit guy. I could knock out pushups and pull-ups and run a few miles with ease.

Developing fitness wasn’t hard for me, so I thought people who weren’t fit were simply lazy. When I became injured I became sedentary. I went from working out everyday to laying in bed. It was weeks before I could even walk. Months past before I could run again.

So I was starting out with Zero Fitness. My leg had no muscle and I had lost my endurance. It was like I was a couch potato who wanted to start building fitness. Coming back was incredibly hard. As I mentioned before, I thought people that weren’t fit were lazy. Not true. In fact, they probably are just as disciplined as I am.

Because starting is freaking hard.  I know now why people fail again and again at becoming fit –  it’s too hard to make fitness a habit.  Before my injury, I was in shape and fitness was an ingrained habit, so it was easier.

So if becoming fit is hard, how does one make it a habit? I came up with a solution. Start slowly.

Walking

First I started walking.  For week after week I walked everywhere I could. I walked around and around my neighborhood, up steps, and to places a short distance away. At first I hated walking. It quickly grew monotonous and I even stopped doing it for a few days. But I knew that walking was a very necessary first step to developing fitness.

So I made it fun. I focused on enjoying the moment, the breeze, the climate, being out in open air. My walks then became enjoyable, and I walked longer and longer as I built up endurance.

So the first step to fitness is walking. It’s easy on your body, and it can be a good workout. Start walking small distances and slowly increase. Walk everyday. Learn to enjoy walking.

Strength

My body had grown weak from surgery and laying in bed. I needed to strengthen it but I was discouraged. My leg had almost no muscle and my upper body had been reduced in strength.

So I started with the basics. I did pushups, squats, lunges, dips. I went as close as I could to the bar when doing a pull-up (eventually completing one). Only when I felt confident doing bodyweight exercises did I move on to weights.

Working out everyday quickly grew boring. I again wanted to quit. So I made things easier. Did it hurt my workout? Yes, but it allowed me to continue working out consistently which is what truly matters.

I slowly worked my way up, and as of today am over twice as strong with my surgical leg and upper body than before surgery.

Running

Running was painful. And it was discouraging to run two miles and feel like I was going to pass out. I knew that if I kept pushing myself I wouldn’t run consistently.

So I went slowly. I ran till I felt tired than stopped. Next day I would run a little further and so on. In only a few months I was in better shape than I was before. The reason was I ran consistently. Starting slowly and gradually building allowed me to be motivated to run everyday.

The Key

So the key to starting fitness is to go slowly. It doesn’t matter how slow or for how little distance you run. It doesn’t matter how little you lift. If you slowly build, you will workout consistently. And you will get much better over time.

Developing lifetime fitness doesn’t happen overnight. If you start to fast, you will probably fail. Start slow, be consistent, and you too can become fitter than you’ve been in your entire life.

Jake O’Callaghan is passionate about teaching and helping people change. Slowchange is his blog on making simple, lasting change. zenteen is a blog he created to help teens simplify and deal with the crazy teenage life.

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Editors Note: This is a Contribution from Eric Hulse.

“No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” - Emma Goldman, Author

Children are amazing. It’s a shame we have to “grow up”. I’m completely in favor of “Peter Panning” my way through life however, I am well aware that adulthood has fully set in and there is no turning back!

So, to combat the inevitable, I have chosen a career which allows me to be around kids all day. Besides having a fulfilling job as a Holistic Health Coach, I am also an elementary school teacher and proud uncle of SIX nieces and nephews. I am grateful that I can be a part of their day and learn from them just as much as they learn from me.

What I’ve realized throughout the years is, life is beautiful, meant to be a never ending exploration, filled with endless energy and love.

Below is a list of several life lessons I’ve learned from working with and being around children. I hope you find them helpful and can apply them to your life.

Playtime is a natural part of the day

Children need to play. It’s how they learn, interact with each other, and explore the world. Playtime is built into a child’s day so they can use their imagination, move their bodies, and meet new friends without judgement or hatred. Adults, on the other hand, hardly ever play. There are deadlines to meet, bills to pay, and “things” to take care of which all comes with the job of being a grownup. However, this doesn’t mean we have to neglect our inner child! Many adults suffer from anxiety, stress, and depression because they don’t allow themselves to play, be creative, and they take life very seriously. It’s important for our spirit to enjoy a hobby that fosters our creativity, to spend time outside in nature, and to meet new friends. Oh, and a genuine smile helps also!

Forgiveness 

Children are quick to forgive. It’s as if there minds instinctively know that holding a grudge will lead to unpleasant feelings. They won’t be able to play if they can’t forgive their friends, this leads to sadness, a decrease in energy and overall “yucky” feeling. It’s just not worth it. There’s really no time for it in a child’s world. There’s too much life to live!

Laughter

Kids can laugh up to 150 times a day while most adults barely make it to 5! It’s a pleasure watching my nieces and nephews run around the house laughing for no good reason at all! It’s a way for them to connect with each other and release the positive, unrestricted energy they have inside. Laughter is a clear indication of how you view the world. Those who are tense, self conscience, or too busy to laugh have forgotten the many joys and silly episodes life has to offer. Laughter can reduce stress, relax the body, and inspire hope.

Curiosity

Can you remember as a child wanting to explore the out doors, take things apart so you can see how they work, or ask your parents a million questions about one thing? Everything was new and exciting. Being curious was how we learned about life, our bodies, and the world. It gave our days that special spark and trill! Somewhere along the line, that natural inclination of wanting to know more was replaced by the comfort of staying the same and closed off from the possibilities of the world. However, those brave enough to continue being curious as adults have discovered new lands, invented marvelous creations, and have changed the world as we know it. Their inner child never stopped asking why, how come, or believing in the impossible.

Unconditional love

I believe children are love. They are pure, kind, and filled with life. They don’t care if you’re rich, a different color, a different race, and for that matter a different species! They want to make you happy, give you presents, and make you smile. Children love with their entire being and do so from a place of honesty. There is peace in their hearts that some grown ups have covered up with judgements and fears. Unconditional love has the power to save relationships, bring us together, and heal the world.

I hope this list has given you a chance to reconnect with the children in your life and to see them as tiny teachers guiding you throughout your day.

 Remember children know many of live’s secrets, the ones we as adults have forgotten about.

Eric Hulse is a Holistic Health Coach. His practice focuses on teaching parents how to regain control of their health in order to improve the health of their families. Visit his website or follow him on Facebook for tips on how to increase your energy, reduce daily stress, and regain your happiness. 

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Please consider Subscribing to our free articles and checking out our new eBook ‘All About Fitness’ for simple strategies on staying fit! If you enjoyed this article please Tweet about it.