Sunday, September 16, 2012

5 Ways To Make Exercise a Habit



Proper nutrition through a balanced diet and appropriate food supplementation lays a great foundation for health. But it will only take you so far.

For optimal health, regular exercise is a must. Although "regular" is much easier said than done. Even though most people recognize the need for exercise, making and keeping an exercise habit is challenging for a lot of us. Here are a few tips to help you develop this essential habit.

Make It Fun

There’s no one “right” way to get your exercise, so don’t feel like you have to lift weights or run for miles each day. Exercise can be anything from walking briskly around your neighborhood to dancing in your living room.

If you don’t like doing certain activities, calling it “exercise” won’t make it any easier. In fact, you’ll be even less likely to keep at it. Find an activity that you enjoy and stick with it.

Start Small

Most people jump right into their next fitness routine and go full bore for 45 minutes to an hour, and then within a week they’ve already given up because they’re too tired, sore and miserable to want to do it again.

Don’t let this happen to you! Ideally, you’ll want to exercise for 20-30 minutes a day. When you’re first starting out, however, go for 10 minutes at a time. Set smaller, near-term goals that you know you can reach to build your confidence and your stamina. As you become more accustomed to regular activity, increase you workload accordingly.

Reward Showing Up

Whether it’s a quiet soak in the tub, a night out, or a sweet snack—don’t go overboard here—you’ll want to incentivize your exercise routine by rewarding yourself with a special treat. At first you might set rewards just for having exercised.

As you get into your habit, reward yourself for reaching certain milestones or achievements.

Schedule Exercise for Quiet Time

Make exercise a priority by scheduling it for times with minimal distractions. If you know your friend usually calls around 6 p.m. and that they’ll talk for an hour while you work on getting dinner ready and help the kids finish their homework, then don’t schedule your exercise for 6:15.

Things will always come up—that’s just part of life—but by limiting interruptions, you’ll greatly increase your chances of sticking to your habit.

Get a Buddy

We’ve all heard that misery loves company. Well success does, too. Finding someone to exercise with, whether it’s your spouse, a friend, or even your kids, is a great way to strengthen your commitment.

Developing any good habit—not just exercise—can be a challenge, but having a plan makes it much easier to tackle. For more ideas on how to make and keep your exercise habit, check out this article.

It’s also important to make sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs to build muscle and support an active lifestyle. Click here for suggestions on supplements that give your body the right nutrients for your activity levels.


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