If you're trying to turn your life around and start getting more exercise, that first step you take will be the hardest. It's always hard to make a change and stop taking the easy way out, but you're going to have to stay committed if you want to achieve your goals. Whether you're trying to lose weight or you just want to get a healthier lifestyle, exercise is the most important thing you can do. Here's how to take that first step.
1. Make it easier.
We already know how hard it can be to change yourself from a coach potato overnight. However, there are some methods that you can use that will keep you motivated and make it easier to get active. Here are a few tips. Start off by finding an exercise that you actually like. If you enjoy shopping, go to the mall and walk around. You can window shop while you get some exercise. If you like to play basketball, get some friends together for a quick game. By making it fun, you're making it easier and you'll be less likely to get discouraged.
2. Keep your eye on the prize.
You need to set yourself up to win by setting goals that are at first easy to attain. Once you've transitioned into that active lifestyle you can set more difficult ones, but you need to get over that first hump before you can do that. Set some easy goals, like being able to walk for ten minutes without getting winded. Once you achieve that, you'll have a greater sense of satisfaction and you'll be motivated to keep going. If you get derailed, don't quit! Just go back and start again. It's only failure if you refuse to try again.
3. Enlist the help of a friend.
It's all too easy to make excuses when it's just us. However, if you get a friend to help you, it's a lot harder to back out. Just make sure that you're not picking a friend that is an enabler. You want someone who's going to challenge you to keep going. If this doesn't sound like any of your friends, you may need to seek the help of a personal trainer. They can help keep you motivated and on track to achieve your goals.
4. Set up a plan that's easy to follow.
If you work a lot, chances are by the end of the day you're pretty wiped out and exercising is the farthest thing from your mind. In this case, try to get your workout done in the morning or at lunch time when you still have energy. Instead of wiping you out for the rest of the day, you'll actually find that you're more energized.
These are just a few tips that can help you achieve an active lifestyle with a lot less stress. Never forget why you want to get healthy. It will help keep you on track towards your goals and make it easier.
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Originally posted 2008-11-10 03:56:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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4 comments ↓
for me it is all about number four—–though Im not good at times with external motivation
and accountability buddies might get on my nerves.
terrible, I know….
I sometimes need all 4.
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[...] can always shirk off exercise time when it’s just us, but if you have a committed buddy, it gets a lot harder. Just make sure that your buddy is really motivated. It won’t do you [...]
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