Get Active Stay Active
Summer is almost here, so below is a quick-and-dirty primer on the reasons you should be exercising coupled with some rah-rah motivational strategies to get you going and keep you going.
Exercise benefits
l Energy increase
l Manufacture and release of endorphins, the body's feel-good chemicals
l Amplified strength and stamina
l Increase in brain power, clear thinking
l Disease and disability prevention
l Better, deeper, more restful sleep
l Alleviates depression
l Decreases stress
l Increases lean tissue and decreases body fat
l Enhances circulation
l Keeps bones strong and prevents osteoporosis
l Increases self-esteem
l Helps to break other bad habits: eating junk food, smoking, drinking alcohol to excess
Exercise myths
l Aerobic exercise is more important than strength training
l You have to be skinny to be healthy
l How you look is more important than how you feel
l You have to exercise constantly to realize any benefit
l No pain, no gain
l Laziness makes you fat – overweight is a character flaw
Exercise facts
l Amount of activity determines overall health, not body size
l Feel good, look good
l Any exercise is better than none at all
l Heredity is the single most determining factor of body size
Motivation to begin
l Use self rewards
l Toot your own horn: make a big deal of every accomplishment
l Take a class through your local parks and rec – something you've always meant to do like belly dancing or water ballet
l Start a group and perform fitness videos together
l Be active with your family – quality time like biking, hiking, swimming, even flying kites or learning to skateboard together
Motivation to continue
l Make exercise a priority (it has to be equal to brushing your teeth and putting on your shoes)
l Find the time (watch your agenda)
l Assign a time (consistency)
l Do it (make it fun)
l Make it a habit (it'll take 6-8 weeks for the habit to be ingrained, so stick with it)
l Use positive thinking (Tell yourself you're giving yourself a gift, not depriving yourself of time to watch TV)
l Reduce the obstacles (put your exercise clothes out before you go to bed, keep your bike in top condition, pay for your gym membership ahead of time)
l Hitch exercise to an essential (bike to work!)
l Have others help you be accountable
l Find a role model
l Acknowledge that there are pros and cons
l Don’t sweat the times you don't exercise – give yourself permission to skip once in a while