Want to know how to get into the exercise habit? If you do, then you’re probably like 99% of the population and you’re having trouble just staying motivated right?
There are several reasons why we struggle to stay motivated, and here are some of them:
- Too tired – by the time you’ve finished work and arrived home, all you want to do is eat then go to bed!
- Not enough time – Our lives are getting busier, and putting aside just 15 minutes a day means you’ve got to put of doing something else that you think is more important.
- Your weight loss goals are too high – sometimes when we aim too high, we tend to let those negative voices in that tell us we’ll never do it. Big goals are great, but they should be broken down in to smaller, manageable chunks.
- You’re just not in the habit of exercising – this is a biggy. Create a habit like this, and you will have no trouble staying motivated, and you’re about to find out how to do it!
Ok, so you know why it’s so difficult to stay on track when you want to lose weight by exercising, but how do you get into the exercise habit easily?
These pointers will get you on your way:
- Start with a goal, and like I said above, if it’s a big one, then great, but break it down into smaller chunks. For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds within 8 months, start with a goal to lose 5 pounds in two months, or something like that.
- Write your goal down, in the present tense, as though you have already achieved it. Write it on the back of a card (or several cards) and put them around your house, in your pocket or in your purse so you’re constantly reminded of your goal.
- Get yourself an exercise buddy. If you have a friend who also has trouble feeling motivated, then perfect! You can push and support each other along the way!
- Start very small. If you’re planning to exercise 30 minutes a day and that seems too much right now, start really small and do only 5 minutes a day, gradually building up as time goes on.
- Try to do some exercise at least every second day. Don’t overdo it though – starting off too hard may cause you to give up because it’s too hard.
- To keep yourself accountable, tell your friends, family and coworkers what you’re doing, and suggest to them that you might need a bit of a push at times! I’m sure they’d love to help you out! 😉
- Think of things you can do to reward yourself as you reach each mini goal. After you’ve lost your first 5 pounds, you might treat yourself to a pedicure. After the next 5, you could buy yourself a small piece of jewelry to remind yourself about how far you’ve come. When you finally reach your end goal, then maybe a new outfit would be appropriate?
- Setbacks can happen, but that’s ok as long as you get back on track as soon as you can. Don’t beat yourself and keep moving forward.
- Stay focused!
These are just some of the ways you can get into the exercise habit. Once you’re in the habit, you’ll feel like something’s “missing” when you don’t exercise. Exercising regularly will make you feel better, raising your energy and giving you a happier outlook on life. Creating an exercise habit is the best way to keep that happening on a regular basis. 🙂
