How to Get into the Habit of Working Out

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By Magentaslb
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Get into the Habit of Working Out

Just can't seem to get your butt off the couch? Or maybe you're just so busy, you can't find the time to squeeze in a workout, and you keep telling your self, "Tommorrow, yeah, I'll start tomorrow..." Read on, and get that butt in gear!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Willpower!

Step 1

You want to be around to see her get married. Take care of yourself.

Make the commitment to yourself. Decide that once and for all you want to make a change. Do it for yourself, your family, to look good at the beach - whatever the reason, it has to be compelling for you, or else what's the point? Living a longer an healthier life for yourself and your loved ones is a great place to find motivation.
Step 2

Better time management can lead to a freed up schedule.

Find the time. Keep a record of your daily activities for a week. Keep track of what time you do what when. At the end of the week, go through your records and see if there's any tasks that can be consolidated, or moved to a more logical time.

For example, if you find that you spend a few days out of the week running errands in between your work schedule, why not designate one or two days to be "errand days". This would eliminate the need for daily trips out and about, when you could be useing that time to sneak in a workout.
Step 3

Grab a friend and the time will fly faster.

Buddy up. The buddy system can vastly improve your chances that you'll stick to your routine because there is another person dependant on you, keeping you both motivated. Plus it can turn the tedium of a workout into a fun social experiance.
Step 4

Don't touch that snooze button!

Be an early bird. A study by the Mollen Clinc in Scottsdale, Arizona found that 75% of those who worked out in the morning did so regularly, compared with just half the afternoon exercisers, and a quarter of after-work exercisers.

Added incentive to not hit that snooze button? You'll start your workday more focused. A recent study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that twenty minutes of moderate aerobic exercise improved concentration, reading comprehension and cognitive function.
Step 5

Work that heart!

Do a quick sculpting routine before you start your cardio. Research supports that exercising in this order can actually increase the amount of fat that you burn.

Exercisers who participated in a study at the University of Tokyo who biked within twenty minutes of lifting weights tapped more of their fat stores than those who rested longer or those who didn't tone at all.

Also, constructing your workout in this order is good for your heart. Arteries stiffen during resistance training, which increases blood pressure, but when followed by a cardo work out (such as a twenty minute run), these effects are counteracted, and lessons the amount of time it take for your arteries to return to normal.
Step 6

Try the stair 2 at a time...just not in heels.

Add exercise into your daily routine.
Squeeze in your glutes and tighten up your stomache while your waiting in line. This will train your stomache muscles to flatten, as well as firm up your butt. Take the stairs two at a time - the quick bursts of power activate your legs' fast-twitch muscle fibers, which burn more calories that slow-twitch fibers. Find moments in your everyday life where you can go that little extra mile.
Step 7

Always warm up by stretching.

Stretch. It reduces the chance for injury and significantly decreases muscle soreness. Don't bounce while stretching, you run the risk of pulling a ligament or tendon. Whenever you find yourself just sitting watching TV or reading a book, take this time to do some nice relaxing stretches - not only it it good for you, but it feel really good too!
Step 8

Lace up!

Leave your workout shoes by the front door. Sneakers are the most forgotten about piece of work-out gear (sports bras are a close second). By making them literally an obstcale sitting in your path ion your way out the door, you won't be able to forget them!