Your Body Was Designed to be Physical
These days the couch seems to be the preference of choice for most. And actions speak louder than words. The toughest factor in exercising is taking the first step to get moving. But with the right tools it WILL happen.
Get the Support You Need To Commit To Exercising!
Support is key with any changes you make in life. Because as humans we are creatures of habit and this makes us naturally resistant to change. We find comfort in routine whether it’s good or bad. So you need to dig deep to make exercise a new ‘good’ habit. By telling your family and close friends about your decision to exercise, you are pushing the odds in your favor that you’ll stick with it. Taking it one step further and investing in a personal trainer to get your focused and training effectively is only going to set you up for success! It’s easy to let yourself down by hitting the ‘snooze’ button when you’re supposed to be crawling out of bed and heading to the gym before the sun rises. It’s a whole different story if you’ve got a friend or trainer to answer to. Chances are pretty good you will get your butt out of bed and get exercising – or else!
Another motivational factor in exercising is to figure out what you love doing and stick with it. If you can’t stand the thought of working out indoors, then take it outdoors. You could join boot camp classes that often train outside in parks where you can exercise while enjoying nature. Why not hop on your bike or join a hiking club. The important thing is that you do what you like. It’s also essential that you set realistic goals for yourself. Ones you know you can hit rather than cause frustration. And if you need help with this a personal trainer is a great idea.
Hitting Your Goals is Like a Breath of Fresh Air
That said there’s nothing better than the feeling of achieving a goal. Whether your goal was to lose ten kilos, run a 5 km race by the end of the summer, or fit into your wedding dress again, hitting your goal is fantastic. Never forget either that minor setbacks are allowed. You’re only human and expect to take three steps forward and one step back from time to time. It’s important to accept this, refocus yourself and get right back on track with no regrets.
No Excuses – Make the Time to Exercise!
Of course everyone seems to be short of time these days and this is the number one excuse people don’t exercise. What you need to do is initially treat it like a job. Schedule time into your day for exercise and view it like an appointment. You need to figure out what when the best time is to exercise for you and in what capacity. Maybe you need to split it into 2 or 3 different increments of 15 or 20 minutes. That’s perfectly okay. Exercise is exercise no matter how you divvy it up. And don’t think you have to go to the gym to exercise. All you have to do is get your heart rate up for at least ten minutes at a time, for at least 30 minutes a day. You can do this by gardening or even doing laundry and climbing the stairs. Figure out your exercise parameters and go with what works.
Other options for heading to the gym are going when it isn’t crowded. Maybe you could get some light weights and strength training at home, or do an aerobics video. You can also join running, walking or biking groups, or commit to trying something new, like rowing or maybe yoga. The sky is the limit here and you will be successful as long as you commit to doing exercise that you love.
Fit Exercise Into Every Day
You can even fit a little more exercise into your everyday. Park further away from work or the grocery store. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or organize a neighborhood soccer game that will get your heart rate pumping. Maybe you want to go with a friend to her dance class, try pole dancing classes for fun, or take your neighbors dog for a walk just because. You can even devise a home workout that take just 30 minutes and will get you fit fast! Start with 5 minutes of skipping, followed by 3 sets of 10 sit-ups, and 3 sets of 5 push-ups. Rest for two minutes and then do 5 minutes of light jogging on the spot, followed by 3 sets of 10 jumping jacks, 3 sets of 10 squats, and another two minute break. Finish off with 15 burpees (in a pushup position with knees bent and feet by your shoulders, extend your feet out backwards together to a pushup position, jump your feet towards your hands and jump up and back down to start position, repeat), 5 pushups, 10 squats, 10 sit-ups, and then 5 minutes of skipping and 5 minutes of jumping jacks. The idea is to push add to this and push yourself a little bit more each time. Ensuring you are always mixing things up just a little to get optimal results.
Eating Right and Exercising Regularly Will Optimize Results
We can’t forget the importance of eating right while exercising regularly. They are both necessary if you are going to lose weight, get lean and strong, gain energy and feel fantastic. You need to ensure you are eating enough calories each day to force your body to burn the extra fat you want it too. If you half starve yourself your body will act defensively and break down your muscle for energy rather than fat. Definitely not what you want to happen.
NOW is the time for you to make the right changes for you, to get healthy with fun exercise and sensible eating!
Last Reviewed 01/Mar/2014
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