Getting Started with Exercise When You Really Don't Want to
by Janice Elizabeth Small
Want to get fit but can't quite bring yourself to get moving?
That's the situation with many people. We'd all like to be fit
but sometimes the very thought of all that effort means we constantly
put it off for another day.
And then there are those of us who start off enthusiastically
with a new "three times a week at the gym" routine only to throw
in the towel after a few weeks. You either injure yourself by
going too fast too soon or find it takes up too large a chunk
of the little free time you have or it just feels too much like
hard work.
For reluctant exercisers the way to get fit without a fuss is
by starting slowly and building up to a level you are comfortable
with. If you challenge yourself just a little each time you do
anything and never go too far beyond your comfort zone you can
get a surprisingly long way fast.
This way of working up to exercise may seem a bit feeble to the
fitness enthusiasts out there. But you have to remember they are
already enjoying the huge benefits of working out. And it works
a treat for those of us who have a horror of getting sweaty and
uncomfortable and who don't yet have experience of how much better
it feels to be fit.
To get going with a routine you can stick to:-
1. Start with something simple
Walking is a great way to ease gently into exercise. You can
fit it into your day without getting changed into any special
clothes. Put on a comfortable pair of shoes and you're ready.
And it's something most people can do. You can take the dog and
the kids if you need to. They'll benefit too. Or even just walk
around your home if you can't get out.
2. Start with a tiny amount
If lack of time is putting you off, start with just 10 minutes
exercise. Everyone can find 10 minutes somewhere in the day. You'll
be amazed at how much better you'll feel with just 10 minutes
every day if you don't do anything at all at the moment. Even
better, find 2 or 3 ten minute periods when you can go for a walk.
It's great to fit a walk in at lunchtime and after dinner and
maybe you can make it part of your journey to or from work or
taking your kids to school. This will meet the guidelines for
a healthy lifestyle - but in any case 10 minutes a day is great
to get you started. So don't let the guidelines put you off if
you can't spare more time.
3. Never go too far too fast
If you're unused to exercise check with your doctor before you
begin. Once you get going, build up your strength gradually, gently
challenging yourself each day to go a little further, a little
faster or a little longer. Straining yourself too much leads to
injuries and if it gets to be too much too fast you'll end up
giving up.
4. Make it fun
Get some company for your walks or listen to an MP3 or CD player
or a portable radio. Choose a safe place to walk in your neighbourhood
and if you can, somewhere with great scenery too. It may be worth
driving a little to find a good place to walk.
5. Remind yourself of the benefits
Remind yourself each day, as you think about taking your exercise,
how much you are doing for your health and well-being - cutting
down your risk of heart attack, stroke and diabetes, burning calories
and keeping your weight down, helping to protect against loss
of muscle as you age and protecting yourself against osteoporosis
too. And then there are the intangible benefits like improving
your self-esteem and mood because you're doing something positive
for yourself.
6. Be consistent
With a gentle exercise like walking be consistent and keep it
up every day. It's too easy to let a day off extend into a week
and then it's hard to get going again. If you do end up taking
a break just go right back where you were. Don't try and make
up for a day off by doubling your efforts the next day. Also if
you do a lot on one day and feel the painful effects of some new
activity, still try and do your walk the next day, even if you
have to go a bit slower than normal. It helps you turn exercise
into a habit.
7. Monitor yourself
A pedometer is a great tool for keeping a check on your progress.
You can count the paces you take on your regular walk or even
the paces you take all day. A pedometer encourages you to build
up your level of activity and makes it easy to challenge yourself
to build up your fitness bit by bit. If you monitor your whole
day's activity, the paces soon add up if you follow those age-old
weight loss tips about parking in the furthest space and using
the stairs instead of the elevator. They say you should aim for
10,000 steps a day but you can build this up gradually 100 at
a time.
8. Choose an alternative
If walking doesn't fill you with enthusiasm why not choose an
activity you would like to do - something which doesn't feel like
exercise. How about dancing or skating, skiing or horse-riding?
Anything which gets you out and about and moving will help improve
your fitness - you don't have to be restricted in the activities
you choose provided your general health is OK. Think about the
things you loved as a child and try taking them up again.
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