For those of us who don’t work a winter sport like football or basketball, the time is now to put down the remote, get off of the couch and get into game shape.  The season is just around the corner.

While I am not the most fit, and not many of us are, I do know quite a few tricks to get OUT of exercising.  So that makes me the perfect person to lay out some accountability on all of us. Let’s get started!

Here are seven tips to getting ready for that first pitch by getting our bodies back into game shape from the long winter.

A lot of umpires have, um… “softer” frames.  This is a way to working on that early and being proactive with your season so your mechanics are crisper, your calls are more accurate and you get into less trouble!

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SHOW NOTES:

Here are seven tips to getting back into game shape along with notes from the episode:

1. Start.

   • Right now. Get moving. Get to a gym. Take the dog for a walk. Put down the Pringles. Whatever you’re doing right now, the best way to begin is simply to start.

2. Start slowly

   • There is a real risk of a long-term injury if you try to do too much too soon.
   • Stretching is a huge part of exercise. Here’s a couple of good websites about stretching.
     • http://www.wikihow.com/Stretch (Pay special attention to 7-12)
     • Full Body Stretch
   • Get off the Couch Workout

3. Start with a plan

   1. Track your food and your workouts
      • MyFitnessPal
      • FitBit
      • SparkPeople
   2. Schedule your workouts in your calendar
   3. Drink plenty of water before and after workouts
      • Rehydrate is a healthy alternative to Gatorade
   4. Plan out your food before games, and carry a cooler in the car of healthy snacks.

4. Start with a friend

   • Working out with a buddy helps with accountability
   • Feel free to add me so we can compare fitness plans
     • Chris Kamler – MyFitnessPal
     • FitBit – Search Chris Kamler

5. Start Mixing It Up

   • Try some different excercises to work on your core and lower body. Focus on back and torso excercises
     • Torso Twists
     • Lower Body Excercises

6. Start Something New

   • Once you get into it for a few weeks – try something new.
   • As for help! Check with the folks at the gym. They’re there to help you!
   • Consider getting an hour of personal training time
   • Take a class. Yoga isn’t just for ladies!!

7. Start With A Salad

   • Journal your food
   • Plan out your meals
   • Great book called Eat This, Not That
   • STAY POSITIVE!!

Good luck with your efforts to get into shape! Sound off in the comments below. What has worked for you?

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