How to Commit to Exercise

Whether you have decided to exercise in order to lose some weight or maintain a sense of well-being, committing to an exercise schedule tends to be the hardest part of the workout for many of us. Learn to maintain your exercise resolve by identifying your self-sabotage techniques and addressing them.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Ask yourself, what kind of exercise do you like to do? You may have a definite idea about what kind of physical activity you would like to do, in which case you are a step ahead. Otherwise don’t be afraid to shop around. Try going for a run and see how you feel afterwards or check out an exercise class at a community center or a yoga studio—often new students are offered a discounted or even free first class to see if they like the program on offer.
2. Choose a second physical activity to do on a regular basis so that your first choice seems less monotonous over time as it becomes part of your routine. A second activity will keep your muscles from getting complacent and can make a nice compliment to your first choice. If you’ve started jogging, maybe you would like to alternate your workout days with weightlifting?
3. Consult your schedule and construct an exercise plan that fits into your current routine with only a minimum amount of change. Commit to only what you can easily accomplish. You may wish you were 20 lbs. lighter and aspire to a 5-day-a-week exercise program that will get you there in 2 months, but if you work a 40-hour week and maintain an active family and social schedule then that’s not a sustainable option. Start off with an exercise schedule that’s 20 to 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
4. Guard your schedule against sabotage by refusing to bargain with yourself. Exercising for 10 minutes longer than usual on Wednesday does not make it okay to shorten or skip your workout schedule on Friday. And unless a life-or-death emergency occurs, maintain the schedule that you set for yourself and don’t allow friends, work or family to intrude upon your exercise time—unless they are joining you for a workout!
5. Check back in with yourself after about 6 months to see how you are doing. You may have found that the schedule that you constructed for yourself has been a challenge to keep; if so think about why and consider scaling back to a more do-able schedule or reflect on other ways that you may be sabotaging yourself. If you find that you are meeting your schedule easily, consider increasing the amount of exercise in your routine.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are living on a tight budget, exercising doesn’t have to break the bank. Walking, jogging, riding your bike are all forms of exercise that you can do outdoors and with minimal amounts of equipment. Many television networks also offer exercise programs that you can follow along with in the privacy of your own home.
• Always construct your workout program in consultation with your health practitioner.