Fitness Health Exercising: 10 Proven Tips to Get Started and Stick with It
The lack of physical activity has also been studied. Research has found that inactivity is a health risk just like smoking or eating a poor diet. Unfortunately, more than sixty percent of American adults are not sufficiently active. Our bodies are meant to move. We have over six hundred muscles in the body and the familiar saying "if you don't use it, you'll lose it" is true.
What's good to know is the fact that it is never too late to start exercising. The benefits of exercising are universal meaning it applies to everyone and it works every time. But even when we know that exercise is good for us, getting started is sometimes hard. Our minds may actually work against us in the beginning. Something holds us back. It seems that we would rather stay comfortable in our current state than take on a new routine. The way to break out of this state is to recognize where we are in control of our lives and have the strength to make a change. Here are some helpful suggestions to start exercising and have the mindset to stick with it:
1. Make Exercise an Important Part of Your Life. Regular exercise should be a top priority in all of our lives. Make the time to exercise because you'll never find the time. Decide today that you will not compromise or make excuses when it comes to exercise. The rewards (good health) are too great to miss and the consequences (poor health) are too great to ignore.
2. Set Short and Long-Term Goals. Setting goals is good practice in business, personal finances, relationships and it works well with exercise too. Put your health and fitness goals in writing and review them daily. An example of a short-term goal may be to develop a good habit by working out regularly for two weeks straight. Another goal may be to lose a certain amount of weight or improve muscle tone and body composition. Your long-term goals should center on using regular exercise as an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, preventing disease and remaining active all of your life.
3. Take Measurements. Create your personal 'before and after' ad. Weigh yourself and use a tape measure to take measurements of your neck, chest, waist, hips, and thighs at the start of your exercise program. Write down the measurements. After 60 days of regular exercise, take the same measurements again and compare the results. This is an excellent way to chart your progress.
4. Choose an Exercise Program That's Right for You. There is something for everyone when it comes to exercise. It does not matter how old you are or what condition you are in when you begin. The key is to start slowly and choose a program that interests you. Don't be afraid to explore by consulting with a certified personal trainer, reading articles and books or watching videos for guidance.
5. Visualize Success. Picture yourself finishing a workout and feeling really great about it. Visualize yourself achieving your goals and the confidence you will have from this accomplishment. If you believe it, you can achieve it.
6. Keep a Journal. It always helps to plan and think on paper. In your own health and fitness notebook, write down your goals, workout schedule, progress and diet information. It also helps to include any obstacles you may encounter in order to overcome them and get back on track.
7. Use the Buddy System. Studies have shown that people who make exercising social stick with it longer. Encourage a spouse, friend or co-worker to join you when you work out. Offer to join a friend when they exercise.
8. Variety, Variety, Variety. Use your imagination to keep your workouts interesting. Create a workout music soundtrack with your favorite songs. Change the environment from time to time. Exercise with different people. Sign up for a new fitness class. Play a sport that you never played before but always wanted to try. Rent a fitness video and try it.
9. Challenge Yourself. Our bodies are capable of performing great feats and accomplishing more than what we believe possible. After an exercise session, tell yourself that you are great today. And challenge yourself that you will be even better tomorrow. The challenge will keep you focused and help you reach your goals. Do not set limits on what you can accomplish.
10. Reward Yourself. Take credit for the all of the good things that you have accomplished - small and large. After reaching a goal, treat yourself by purchasing a new outfit, getting for a massage at the spa or having a healthy dinner with family and friends.
Consistent exercise is a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Getting started on a regular routine is not always easy so applying these tips will help. Once you start moving the Law of Momentum will kick into gear. This law states that it is hard to get moving in the beginning but once you get going - it gets easier and easier to keep moving. No more excuses, make the time and get started today.
Ted Johnson is a Health & Fitness Consultant with nearly ten years of experience in personal training and designing holistic wellness programs for his clients. His website www.CompleteHealthNetwork.com provides a free e-newsletter with the latest health and fitness information, interviews, recipes and much more.
Related Tags: fitness, exercise, benefits of exercise, motivating tips
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Dental Insurance For Individual Can Be Of Help At Time
Dental problem may cost one a lot of money and pain. But, practicing a reasonable care could decreas - Personal Trainer For Perfect Health
There is a general misconception that need for a fitness trainer comes for novice or from those who - Varicose Veins - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The majority of people after thirty notice the changes that appear with the maturing. In this case t - Scenar Therapy - Self-treatment Or Healing Partnership
Do you want to learn about a device which will help you to ease your pain? If you get this kind of a - Scenar - 5 "no, Nos" Of Scenar
Are you fed up with the pain in your body? Various parts of our body seem to ache due to different r - Scenar Device - 5 Tips On Travelling With Your Scenar (skenar) Device
You might be aware of scenar which has become quite popular these days. This is actually the acronym - Scenar Therapy - How To Treat Your Pet With Scenar
There are many alternative methods of treatment that are being invented these days. Lots of people a - Your Options For The Treatment For Appendicitis
Appendicitis is considered to be a surgical illness. Due to its severe character, the treatment for - How To Choose The Right Copd Medication
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD does not have any cure. But with the help of medicines - Septic Arthritis: Infectious Agents Penetrate Joints' Spaces
Another major type of arthritis is septic arthritis, which is also known in various terms like: pyog
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Drugs - the Last Alternative for Adhd in Kids
Anyone over the age of thirty who has grown up with ADHD understands that there was not much help av - Foods To Eat To Gain Weight
Malnutrition has the same degree of problem as obesity. There are people who are too skinny, they fi - Understanding Postpartum Clothing
The same way most pregnant women dream of the day when they will begin showing for wearing maternity - Kegel Exercising for Bladder Control and Enhanced Sexual Pleasure
Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, thereby improving the urethra and/or rec - The Use Of Weight Loss Herbs
Nothing has garnered more attention in today's world than the success or failures of weight loss pro - A Simple Acid Relux Cure
Many people today are afflicted with heartburn. If they eat food that is too spicy, they get heartbu - Five Effective Household Back Pain Treatments
Back pain treatment comes in lots of forms, from exercise to pain mediction. Standard and most wides - Herbal Remedies - Can They Cure What Ails You?
You've probably heard about herbal remedies before and how they can treat a variety of health proble - Natural Relief for Tinnitus - What are your Choices
Natural Relief For Tinnitus - Alternative Options Did you know that there are an estimated 50 t - Birthing Around the World
Since ancestral times, different cultures showed off different customs and beliefs around the miracl