You know exercise works, but who has the time or energy to fit it in?
You’ve seen those happy, bouncy people in their workout gear full of energy. Were you thinking, “Must be nice to have all that free time” or I can’t imagine having all that energy”? Many of us equate exercise with negative thoughts and feelings. If you were a yo-yo dieter, exercise may have been a form of punishment when you ate something “bad”. Or if you ever experienced discomfort, or worse yet, pain from doing more than your body was ready to handle, then your vision of exercise is not fun and games. Or maybe you got stuck in a boring rut of the same old thing, day after day.
Becoming more physically active, aka exercise is the best way to boost your metabolism, build muscle that burns more calories than fat, relieve stress and feel better. A great side effect happens to be weight loss but focusing on how great you feel (remember those energetic people working out?) will keep you going longer than just wanting to lose weight.
Here are some thoughts to get you past the initial resistance phase and all the arguments you have in your head:
- No time: we all have the same number of hours in each day and all of us are busy, but the difference is HOW we choose to spend that time. You make time to do the things that are the most important to you. You get just as much benefit if you break your exercise into 3 – 10 minute blocks or 2 – 15 minute blocks.
- Physically-taxing job: even though you may be in much better physical shape than some, you’d have quite a unique job that incorporates cardio, flexibility and strength training of all muscle groups. Add the one(s) missing to round it out.
- No energy: can’t exercise because you have no energy and no energy because you don’t exercise… caught in a negative spiral. The good feelings from exercise typically last after you have finished. So, promise yourself that you will start, but it’s okay to stop after 10 minutes if you are still too tired. Usually, your energy kicks up.
- Too difficult: it doesn’t have to be hard or hurt for you to receive benefits but it should be something you enjoy and is easy and convenient to do so you will stick with it. Whether you exercise inside, outside, to a DVD, a class, alone or with a buddy, make it fun!
- All or nothing: if you have black or white thinking and only 30-45 minutes a day of moderate intensity activity counts, let it go! All extra activity counts, including taking stairs, vacuuming, scrubbing floors, gardening, walking extra steps (try a pedometer), dancing and golfing or any other activity above your normal.
When you begin a new routine, it helps to keep track on a calendar or other visual, as a reminder of your progress. Rather than getting discouraged, if you “miss” days, use it as learning moments. What happened that changed your focus and what can you do differently tomorrow? Live your life happy, healthy and in peace. Your body will thank you… and so will your family.