Being active is a huge part of maintaining optimum health. And, there’s no better way to stay active than to be in motion.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you need to be constantly moving. But, what it does mean is that exercises, where you’re actively moving, are the best for circulation and cardiovascular health. The more you get your blood flowing, the better you feel and the healthier you’ll be.

The great news is that there are several of these exercises that you can do such as walking, running, biking or swimming, going to the gym, or playing sports. But, whether or not you choose to perform these exercises in a controlled indoor environment or outdoors, accidents can happen anywhere, and here’s how to avoid them.

Pre-Stretching

Stretching is possibly one of the most beneficial exercises you can do before actually getting into a more fatiguing physical movement. Warming up the body’s muscles is critical to avoiding injury, and for keeping fit.

Proper stretching not only reduces the possibility of tearing muscle tissue, but also makes you more flexible and limber. In fact, stretching upon waking up and before going to bed for at least 5-10 minutes is known by kinesiologists to increase the body’s ability to build muscle by over 20 percent.

So, before any workout, stay safe and stretch first. You’ll thank yourself later.

Proper Diet

Dieticians recommend consuming at least 9 grams of protein at the start of your day in order to get your brain operating properly. A proper diet is crucial for healthy metabolism and for engaging in exercise. If you’re skipping breakfast in the morning before a workout, you’re probably not operating at the best level possible for strength training or conditioning.

Correspondingly, with your brain not functioning properly while exercising, this exposes you to numerous dangers. This is because when your brain isn’t functioning at its proper level, you’re less alert and less able to recognize risks.

For example, let’s say you go out for a run.

You’re running along and everything is going just fine. Then, you look down at your watch or try to change the track on your playlist and the next thing you know, you’ve just been hit by a car.

Believe it or not, this is a common occurrence. Though many individuals consider filing lawsuits for being hit by a car while running or walking and have won, a lot of the time this can be avoided.

Eating a balanced meal, or even an energy bar at least 30 minutes before a workout can greatly enhance your situational awareness and help prevent you from being involved in an accident.

Start Small

Everybody who goes to the gym wants to look like the buff guy who curls 120 pounds with one arm. But, seriously, don’t try doing this right off the bat.

Muscles need time to heal after being fatigued. This is how our muscles become larger, and better able to lift the weight that we use during repetition, by breaking down and healing.

You might want to jump right in and start lifting those heavy weights, but have patience. In time, you’ll be able to walk into the gym and pick them up with ease, but only if you start small and work your strength level up to handle the bigger weights.

Make those big weights a goal to work toward. If you try to lift them without proper conditioning and training, you’re going to tear a muscle or a ligament. And, this is a painful experience you’re going to want to avoid.

So, start small and avoid the pain.

Stay Safe Out There

If you’re worried about accidents happening such as being ran into by a car, an angry squirrel, or anything else, consider running or walking down a quiet street with little traffic, or by going to a gym and using a treadmill.

Today, we have many options to stay fit. You can even buy an entire home gym online and work out in the comfort and safety of your own home. It’s all up to you. The point is to stay in motion and keep your body moving and your blood flowing in order to stay healthy and ahead in the game of life.