How to Stay Motivated to Exercise

You know you should exercise, but some days it's tough to get moving: not enough time, too tired, no energy. Counteract those excuses by discovering what motivates you, and use these strategies to develop and maintain an active lifestyle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fitness Magazines
• Health Club Memberships
• Athletic Gear

1. Determine an attainable goal such as exercising twice on weekdays, once on weekends. Creating realistic goals will set you up for success. If your goal becomes too easy, you can always design a new one.

2. Create rewards for achieving your goal. The reward can be a massage, a new workout outfit, a new CD, a session with a personal trainer, or a new piece of sports equipment - whatever you really want.

3. Partner with a friend, co-worker or loved one - someone who will support you and your goals without sabotaging them.

4. Subscribe to a fitness magazine or online fitness newsletter. New tips and exercises can be inspirational and alleviate boredom.

5. Create a competition with co-workers or friends. For example, the team whose members exercise for 30 minutes, three times each week for three months wins a prize. You decide what the prize is.

6. Change into your workout clothes. Sometimes, it's just a matter of getting dressed that causes the biggest barrier.

7. Erase the concept that if you can't do at least 30 minutes you're wasting your time. Exercise burns calories, increases energy, and improves your health - even in small doses.

8. Try a new sport or class. Adding variety, group support and competition can increase your likelihood of exercising.

9. Make a commitment to your dog to go for a long walk at least twice each week.

10. Look for ways to incorporate activity into your day, even if you can't do your normal exercise routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go bowling instead of to the movies, or use a push mower instead of a power mower.

11. Sign up for a race and send in the entry fee. Whatever your activity - running, biking, walking, swimming - there are hundreds of races offered all over the world. Pick a place you've always wanted to visit.

12. Join a gym. For some, paying for a membership increases the likelihood of compliance. It also eliminates the bad-weather excuse.

Tips & Warnings

• Exercise in the morning. Research shows that people who make exercise a priority first thing in their day are more likely to stick with it.
• Every person goes through periods of time when it's incredibly challenging to maintain an exercise program. Acknowledge it when it happens, recognize that it's just a brief period of time, and restart your program as soon as possible.
• Choose things that motivate you - not what others want.
• Remind yourself of the many health benefits of an exercise program.
• Always consult with your health care provider before beginning an exercise program.

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[pvshines]

on 6/19/2009 Great tips to keep the motivation going. Exercising for exercising's sake can be so mundane, that's why I'd even add a step 13 "Seek activities where the workout doesn't feel like a workout."

One of my passions is seeking out unique forms of dance and physical fitness and showcasing that via video. I've got a bunch of videos on my website at www.PauleValerie.com in the "TV Hosting and Fitness" section. Enjoy!

[outdoorperson]

on 10/23/2006 Dont' shower unless you've been to the gym. This requires tons of discipline and a desire to be clean. So if you really like showering everyday, then make sure you go to the gym every day... Its like earning a shower...

on 8/31/2006 Buy an outfit in the size that you would like to see yourself in and hang it where you can see it everyday. This will keep you working toward your goal.

on 8/31/2006 I weight lift twice a day for 20 minutes. Which involves stretching, leg lifts, upper and lower abs, obliques and chest press. When I observe women in my age bracket that appear very much out of shape, it makes me feel great!

Exercising it's so worth it!

on 8/31/2006 Find a HS track to run on. Run on the straight sections and walk on the curves. The run should be at a very slow pace (don't give in to the thought of running fast). The first few laps will feel very easy and eventually you will begin to know you're doing exercise. One rule: Once you start to run on a straight section - you must continue to the end of it. Get off the track before you fall down, the idea is to go home with a positive attitude. Do this every other day. If you wish, keep track of your laps. At some point you might decide to only walk on one curve rather than both - that's called progress.