We can all agree that the hard part of exercising is staying motivated. Following a few simple rules to keep yourself on track will help you keep to your exercise routine.
1. Write down your goals. Next, acknowledge it by saying it to yourself as well as someone close to you such as a friend or spouse. By admitting it, you have taken action in implementing these goals.
2. Reflect back on previous attempts that have left you wavering with your exercise commitment. Start off with the basics and work out a realistic schedule where you can progress from there.
3. Be patient with your exercising. Most of us exercise so we can lose weight, tone up, stay healthy, etc. Seeing results isn't anything that is overnight or the first week. Even if it's slower than you expected, results are still present and all good things come to those who wait!
4. Be around people who have similar interest as yourself. Get a training partner whether you are training at home, gym, etc. Having someone who can motivate you when you are down or tired helps a lot! Talk to fitness professionals in the health industry and see if they can assist you to stay the course
5. Constantly monitoring your weight does not help at all. By getting on that dreaded scale, it can definitely discourage your progress if you haven't lost any weight. Muscle does weigh more than fat and if you feel and look better in your clothes then you are making great progress. Focus more attention about losing inches rather than weight.
6. Always educate yourself. Go to a book store, library, or surf the internet and read as much material on health and fitness you can. Knowledge is power!
7. Rewarding yourself is another bonus. Go buy yourself that special thing, outfit, jewelry, trip, dinner you've been coveting! We all need to feel self appreciated and this can definitely jump start yourself by knowing you earned it.
8. Stay positive, remembering that you always feel great after exercising. Be aware of the voice within playing the same old tapes of all the reasons to bag going to the gym. Hear the voice, remember that it is powerless over you and go workout anyway!
9. Keep track of your progress. A simple way to keep motivated is to see how far you've come. Keep a diary and log your exercise routine and training regimen, and track your milestones, classes attended, heavier weights or how quickly you can complete a block of classes.
10. Your determination and perseverance is the key to success. There are no shortcuts or tricks to becoming and staying fit other than making fitness a habit. Plan to workout regularly and unless you have a fever, don't skip it! Like applying deodorant, brushing your teeth and showering, working out needs to be, "just what you do". It's up to you to succeed in life whatever your short or long term goals are
Exercising benefits your overall health, reduces stress, and aids in disease prevention...... so how can you not?
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