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Is staying in shape always something that gets bumped to the bottom of your
list? I know many people that complain about not having enough time to exercise.
I think they are lying to themselves. The real problem is that they hate
exercising, so it will never be a priority.
I used to hate exercising too. Going to the gym, running and most forms of
physical activity seemed dull and painful compared to most other ways I could
spend my time. But by not giving up and looking for a way I could enjoy working
out, I reversed this pattern. Now I exercise 5-6 times per week and I hate not
being able to go.
Here's some tips to make exercise something you actually want to do:
Make it a Habit - Remove the thinking element. If you can make exercise a
habit, then it becomes that much easier to go. Here’s some tips on making habits
stick if you aren’t sure where to start.
Get a Partner - Get someone else to go to the gym with you. Pick someone
who is committed to their health. Not only can you socialize with someone while
you’re there, but you’ll have a backup in case your motivation alone isn’t
enough to drag yourself out there.
Tune Your Challenge Level - Here are two bad ways to start exercising. Go
out and run until your winded and dry-heaving into a ditch. Show up to the gym,
walk around, don’t do anything strenuous and go back Home. In one case you put
the challenge level to high, the other wasn’t challenging at all. Your goal is
to set a workout routine that is challenging, but not overwhelming. Challenge is
key to enjoyment.
Set goals - Not weight-loss or muscle gain goals, but fitness goals. Set
goals to beat your past records in distance ran, push-ups or chin-ups you can
do, weight you can lift or degree you can stretch. Fitness goals make the gym a
game where you strive to beat your previous high-score.
Get Past Your Comfort Zone - So what if you aren't the most svelte or
muscular person in the gym? Self-consciousness can be a big obstacle to enjoying
your workout. The key is to get used to it. When you continue to show up, you’ll
pay less attention to the people around you and more to your workout.
Experiment - Don't stick with the same routine. Mix it up and try different
activities. There are many different exercise routines you can follow or
activities to try. If you don’t like lifting weights or running, try sports,
martial arts or dancing. Assuming that exercise needs to be pumping iron or
jogging may limit you from finding something you would truly enjoy.
music - This shouldn't come as a surprise, but music can enhance a workout.
I find running almost twice as enjoyable with music than without it.
Short Workouts - Don't have time or enthusiasm to last an hour? Just go for
twenty or thirty minutes. Shorter workouts can be better than longer ones if the
intensity is higher and you become more focused as a result. After an hour or
two of exercise your body starts to go into a state where more exercise can
actually reduce physical improvements.
Daily Challenges - Make your workout into a game. Sticking with the same
type of exercises can get boring, so mix it up by introducing an unusual workout
challenge. My gym partner and I have played a game that involves sit-ups and a
deck of cards or one workout day that involves different types of push-ups. If
you aren’t sure where to get ideas, look through a magazine like Mens Fitness
which usually features a variety of different workouts.
Health Top Tips Nutrition Lifestyle
Reward Showing Up, Not Weight Loss - Some people have gotten the idea that
they should reward themselves for losing weight or gaining muscle. I disagree.
Instead, I think you should reward showing up to the gym and exercising
regularly. There are many ways you can lose or gain weight in unhealthy
fashions. Rewarding exercise is rewarding your commitment to health.
Make Exercise Your Stress Relief - I know many people that swear by using
the gym to relieve stress. Some of them will head to the gym because of a
frustrating day even if it isn’t on their schedule. Exercising can be cathartic
and release negative feelings if you get used to using it that way. Then instead
of avoiding the gym because of a stressful day, it will be your reason to
go.
Record Improvements - Again I recommend recording fitness over body
improvements. Recording weight loss or muscle gain is a good idea, but because
of the way your metabolism functions it becomes increasingly harder to make
weight changes as you go to the gym more regularly. But fitness improvements
can, if you work on it, continue to rise. Keep a record of your strength,
endurance and flexibility so you can get pride in your accomplishments.
Make Time - You can't say you don't have time to exercise. Exercise
improves your energy levels and mood which makes you more productive than any
time lost. Find your forty minutes somewhere in the day and make it a
commitment. Get up a bit earlier and go in the morning. Or schedule it right
after work before you settle down for the day. Once you make time and make it a
habit, you'll actually want to exercise instead of just feeling you should. |
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发表于 2016-7-10 11:34:43