I posted some advice from a fellow fitness nut, it said. "Isolate Your Weakness - If falling off the exercise wagon is a common occurrence for you, find out why. Do you not enjoy exercising? Is it a lack of time? Is it feeling self-conscious at the gym? Is it a lack of fitness know-how? As soon as you can isolate your weakness, you can make steps to improve the situation." Then one of my fit chick's asked a question, her name is Vicki. Vicki wanted to know what do you do when it's all of the above? She said she know's that she needs exercise, how does she go from knowing it, to doing it? Very, very good question don't you think? How do you move to action? How do you motivate yourself when you don't enjoy it, you don't have time, and you feel self -conscious at the gym?
Don't Enjoy Exercise?
It all starts with a decision, anything you really want to do, you do it, right? So how do you make exercising something you want to do? First thing, do some research. Find out the benefits of regular exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore! For one, you live longer. A daily workout could add up to four years to your life expectancy. Regular exercise combat's diseases and many health conditions such as high blood pressure, and heart disease. It improves your mood, have you noticed that fit people are really happy, they're always smiling and optimistic that's because physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Exercise also boosts your energy! Exercises helps you to sleep better, and it puts sparks into your sex life (win). These are just a
few of the benefit's of exercising. Type in 'benefit's of regular exercise activity' in your google search bar for more ways exercise can benefit you.
Another option is to read success stories from the millions of people who have literally changed their lives due to regular exercise. This is a great way to motivate yourself. Reading about other's accomplishment's allows you to see what it could be like. Reading about people who are just like you, knowing that they struggled, yo-yo dieted, failed, but kept trying!
Seek out people who enjoy exercise, and ask them why they enjoy it so much. Find a friend who like you, needs some motivation, discuss over lunch how you two can reach your goals together, make a commitment to not let each other down no matter what, and set out to smash those goals! Bottom line, If you know you should exercise, but you don't enjoy it, learn more about it so you can better understand it, then you might find that exercising ain't so bad after all! ;)
Finding Time To Exercise
Finding time to exercise isn't hard as most people think. Contrary to popular belief exercising does not have to monopolize your whole entire day. In reality all you really need is 30 minutes of activity! Don't have 30 free minutes? How about 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening? Make exercise a non-negotiable part of your day. Make a commitment to do a 15 minute walk in the morning before you go to work, and after work hit the gym for a nice 15 minute elliptical session or incline walk on the treadmill. Before you know it you'll be figuring out ways to
make time for exercise. One of my fit chick's named Joann gave some great advice she said "
For me I made small incremental steps. I bought my sneakers first then I made a walking play list. Then I mapped my distance and bought work out clothes. The day before I started, I went to bed early and laid out my shoes, clothes, iPod. Next morning got up and got out. I guess you could do this if you workout at night or go after work. Whatever you do just get started. I'm glad I did. Its been 2 months and it's a way of life."
Lack of fitness know how
Don't know a thing about fitness? Research! Buy books, workout video's, or magazines. Hire a personal trainer, at the gym. Ask a fit friend to give you advice, there are many websites that are free that offer support. My personal favorite is
sparkpeople.com , and of course my site
facebook.com/fitnesschicks.
When reading magazines like shape and fitness don't believe that you have to be like those fitness models, doing all those complicated exercises.You don't
have to do that to look like them. In fact many of them will tell you, I don't do those types of exercises, I just run and lift weights! Just get moving anyway you know how to. Dancing, walking, running, skipping, playing tag with the kids, swimming. Don't put yourself in a box. Don't think you have to exercise like someone else to get results, there are many path's to wellness, some path's are easier to follow for some people, but if you are like Vicki, you might have to figure out your own path, and blaze it for the other Vicki's out there.
Feeling self conscious
Feeling self conscious at the gym is a problem alot of people face, unnecessarily so too! Let me clue you in on something, no one cares. Really! No one is scrutinizing you, you are the only one scrutinizing yourself. Everyone who goes to the gym on a regular basis is usually so busy working out, they don't even have the time or energy to focus on you. Trust me. You are in the right place to get fit, and most people know that. It's huge misconception that the gym is only for 'fit people' most 'fit people' used to be just like you ,and guess where they started? In the gym! Don't let fear hold you back from being healthy!
So, if you want to start your journey to healthy living, but lack the motivation start small, don't jump in head first and try to; eat right, count calories, stop eating after 7pm, workout ,give up soda, and chocolate all at once, I promise you, you'll fail. You'll wake up with a chocolate chip cookie in one hand and Cheeto's in the other wondering "what the hell?" Try starting small, I call it stack building goals. Make a commitment to drink nothing but water for the next week. Once that goal has been met, make another commitment. Do not overwhelm yourself, ease yourself into healthy living, because it's a huge adjustment. Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint, or a race, slow steady endurance will get you there.
