5 EASY WAYS TO MAKE EXERCISE A LASTING HABIT

5 Easy Ways To Make Exercise A Lasting Habit

Starting a regimented fitness routine is not difficult; I’m sure most of us have done it before (probably more than once or twice). For most, the difficulty doesn’t come from starting the new program but from sticking to your new routine or plan long term. It’s understandable; life happens and distractions come up. The initial motivation or enthusiasm fades, we don’t see immediate results, other more engaging activities come up - so what do we do? The exercise takes a back seat to everything else we have going on in life and eventually it drops off.

But we’ve all seen those people out there who never miss a day rain or shine. Those people are in the gym day in and day out, on the track or road constantly, and are at the front of whatever class they are taking every single session. So what’s they’re secret? How do they do it?

The answer may surprise you. Most long term exercisers are not so much concerned with the fantastic abs or giant arms; they are motivated by many other reasons that may be a little surprising. In a recent study of long term exercisers the top ten reasons that motivated people were: 1) fitness 2) feeling of well-being 3) pep and energy 4) enjoyment of the exercise 5) making exercise a priority 6) sleeping better 7) feeling alert 8) being relaxed 9) weight management 10) appearance.

So what steps can the rest of us take to get on track and become dedicated and accountable to an exercise regimen? Here are some easy steps you can try:

Look At All Indicators Of Progress

It’s not all about pounds off the scale, lifting heavier weights, or better fitting clothes! There are so many other progress indicators to look at to keep you motivated and inspired to keep working hard. Consider these other things too: increased energy levels, the ability to get a good night’s sleep, better overall endurance, thinking more clearly, inches off the waist line, a lower resting heart rate, better cholesterol / blood pressure, bone density, triglycerides / blood sugar, and most importantly the compliments from everyone around you!

Mix It Up Often

Variety is the spice of life and it applies to exercise as well. There’s no hard steadfast rule that says you have to run every day or lift weights at the gym. The beauty of exercise is it takes so many different forms and is different person to person. Mixing up the routine not only keeps your body alert and guessing but can combat the boredom of repetition. Try a new exercise, class, sport, or venue – it will do you wonders.

Get Yourself A Workout Buddy

Getting yourself a workout partner has many benefits. A partner keeps you motivated and pushes you to do more than you thought you could; running that extra mile, hitting that extra set, or stretching down just a little lower. A partner keeps you accountable when you’re feeling too tired or too lazy. A partner most importantly will make you feel bad (in a good way). Nobody likes to let their friend down and if you’ve made a commitment to exercise with them it’s going to make it that much harder for you to skip out.

Document Document Document

Documentation is not only for lawyers or HR professionals. Logging your exercise activity is essential! Write down the things that are most important for you. You can track any metric that you’d like, whether it’s the length of time, number of steps, the distance you’ve traveled, or the weight you can lift. Getting it all logged will help you set targets, hit goals, stay accountable, and see changes. It a great way to see how far you’ve come.

Treat Yourself To Something Nice

Set a small target goal; once you hit that goal celebrate and reward yourself. Then set another goal, one that’s a little harder to achieve. Repeat this process over and over and in no time you’ll running that marathon, buying that smaller size pants, or lifting that heavier box. Psychologists say that breaking old habits and changing behaviors is hard. But rewards are very motivating. Do whatever works for you!

Get out there and start exercising!

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