Mental Monday

As I'm beginning to workout regularly (again), and start my half-marathon training, I realize I can come up with 100 different excuses NOT to exercise, when not to long ago, exercise was as brainless to me as breathing. I found this article while surfing WeightWatchers.com and hope you find it to be useful and help you get your groove on, especially if you're in a rut like me :)

xo,


How to Make Exercise a Habit

For many, exercise has a perpetual position at the bottom of the to-do list. You know you have to do it. You know it will help you lose weight faster. You know you need it for good health. Here's how to fit it in.

For many, exercise is perpetually a low priority, something you only do for a few days at time, here and there. Many people also believe that exercise requires a large daily time commitment, or that it has to be physically difficult and demanding. But the truth is that even small amounts of light activity can make a big difference in your weight-loss efforts.

For many, exercise is perpetually a low priority, something you only do for a few days at time, here and there. Many people also believe that exercise requires a large daily time commitment, or that it has to be physically difficult and demanding. But the truth is that even small amounts of light activity can make a big difference in your weight loss.

Forget the myths.

First of all, these common misconceptions about exercise may be what's holding you back:

Myth # 1: Exercise is never fun.

Not only can exercise be fun (Do you hate playing catch with your kids? Hiking through the woods?), it can help fill gaps in your life.

For example, "if you're around people all day long, you can choose an exercise that allows you some alone time," says Robyn Stuhr, exercise physiologist and executive vice president of the American Council on Exercise. If you sit in front of a computer, exercise can be a social thing for you. If you never see your spouse, exercise together.

If you find something that works for you on a personal level, that will make exercise more fun. Plus, you'll be more likely to do it if you look forward to it.

Myth # 2: Exercise is a major disruption.

"The bottom line is that exercise, unlike diet, is something you have to make yourself do," says Stuhr. "Everybody has to eat every day, but you have to purposely set aside time to work out. And it's very easy to let other things get in the way."

But there's a bonus to working out that you won't notice until you do it. When you exercise, you get more energy. And when you stop (like many yo-yoers do), your energy level starts to drop, so it's even harder to jump back in. Sticking with it helps, even if that causes scheduling problems in the short term.

Make it a habit

Making anything a habit—from exercise to eating right—is a matter of having enough "want power," says Palma Posillico, vice president of training and development for Weight Watchers International. "Life gets in the way, so unless you do something proactively, it's very easy to make excuses."

One strategy for acquiring a new habit is to imagine the benefits of that habit. In the case of exercise, picture yourself in great shape. This will help inspire you.

Here are some other tricks for making exercise a habit:

Start slowly.

An hour-long high-intensity aerobics class on your first day will only discourage you, maybe hurt you, and send you back to square one.

Find an exercise buddy.

A workout partner can be immeasurably helpful, because you have a responsibility to your friend not to talk yourself out of exercising. Try to choose a buddy who's in about the same shape as you.

Pick an exercise you like.

Then commit to trying it consistently for at least three weeks. If you still think you hate it after that amount of time, give yourself permission to say, okay, this isn't working. Then pick something different and repeat.

Written by Melissa Sperl

From WeightWatchers.com

4 comments:

Andrew is getting fit said...

I have to agree with all those sentiments.

Arlene said...

I needed this today. The most exercise I've been getting lately is walking from the couch to the fridge.

Dana (www.eatsleepgetfit.com) said...

I am in love with working out. It makes me feel so good. Even on the days I don't feel like working out, once I get it done I feel so much better. My goal is 30 minutes a day on those days. :)

Lori said...

That's a great article. I love having the habit of exercising. If I don't feel like it, I remind myself that you never regret when you do exercise, but you always regret when you don't!

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