Exercise Motivators

Don’t Wait Till The New Year To Make A Resolution To Start Exercising.  The Time Is Now To Start Down The Path To A New You.  Each Day That Goes By Without Exercising Is Another Day Lost.

The Only Workout You’ll Regret Is The One You Don’t Do.

According To http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/exercise-motivation These Are Great Ways To Get Motivated And Stay Motivated To Exercise.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 1: Be Realistic

One of the biggest reasons for failure is that first-time exercisers often set unrealistic goals.

“They want to go for maximal goals, but they tend to get overwhelmed,” says Gerald Endress, fitness director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, N.C.

Don’t start off trying to work out an hour every day. Instead, begin with 20-30 minutes of your chosen exercise two to three times a week.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 2: Keep Track of Your Progress

Don’t forget to chart your progress, whether it’s with a high-tech online tracker or an old-fashioned fitness journal. Seeing incremental improvements, whether it’s in improved time, increased reps, or greater frequency of workouts, can boost your exercise motivation.

“I need to see the value,” says Jay Aronson, a professor of management information systems at the University of Georgia who cycles every day for at least an hour. For his part, Aronson has seen the value of exercise — he lost 75 pounds over two years.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 3: Don’t Expect Perfection

Another pitfall is all-or-nothing thinking, a perfectionist way of looking at life that leads to giving up when you miss a day or two or your workout doesn’t go well. If you accept going in that there will be some sidesteps on your fitness journey, you’ll be better mentally prepared to deal with setbacks, Endress says.

Expect that you’ll get sick from time to time, and be psychologically prepared to miss a few days of exercise when that happens. Don’t let it be an excuse for giving up. “From then on, people say ‘I can’t exercise,'” say Endress. “But there’s always a way to exercise.”

To keep injuries from sidelining you, do your best to prevent them by warming up, cooling down, stretching properly — and not doing too much too soon.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 4: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

We’ve all seen them, those toned, fatless specimens who strut through the gym in their Barbie-sized shorts and sports bras.

Don’t compare yourself to them, Endress says. Forget about them. Forgive them. But do not let them deter you from your goal.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 5: Get Athletic Support

This isn’t about garments but about spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, buddies — anyone who will encourage you. And if their encouragement goes beyond the “atta-boy” or “atta-girl” approach, gently remind them that you don’t need nagging.

“The person should be in support, but not say, ‘Oh, why not?’ or ‘Why can’t you? It’s so easy,'” says Sottovia.

If you need additional help, hire a trainer, she advises.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 6: Find the Fun In It

It’s essential to find an activity you like, say both Sottovia and Endress, and no, they don’t mean sitting on the couch. With an explosion in the number and types of fitness classes at most gyms, it has become easier to find something to appeal to you, from aerobics to Zumba.

If you’re not the gym type, walk around your neighborhood or try activities around the house, such as walking up and down stairs or dancing with the stars in your living room. If you’re motivated by being social, follow Geiger’s lead and join a team.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 7: Break It Up

You can make it easier on yourself by splitting your exercise session into two or three sessions, says Endress. Research supports the idea that this can be as beneficial as one long workout, he says.

So if you don’t feel like exercising for an hour on any given day, do three sessions of 20 minutes each, for example.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 8: Make It Convenient

Do whatever you can to remove obstacles to exercise, and make it as convenient as possible, says Sottovia.

So if you are time-pressed, for example, don’t spend time driving to a gym; try exercising at home to fitness DVDs instead. If you’re too tired to work out at the end of the day, set your alarm a little earlier and exercise in the morning.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 9: Forget the Past

Don’t let previous bad experiences with exercise hinder you, Sottovia says.

So maybe you weren’t the most athletic kid in high school, and were the last chosen for class games. That was years ago. Your goal now is not to win a letter jacket or make the cheerleading squad — you want to exercise to stay healthy and enjoy your life.

Exercise Motivation Tip No. 10: Reward Yourself

Endress recommends rewarding yourself for making the effort to exercise — not with a piece of chocolate cake, but with something that you enjoy, like a movie or flowers.

Try to think of treats that will reinforce a mind-body connection so you can savor the rewards of your hard work. Plan a short trip, or just an hour in a botanical garden. Go to a ballgame. And remind yourself with each precious moment that you are enjoying this time because of all the great things you have been doing for yourself.

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