Going for a walk every now and then or joining a softball game once a month won't get you far when it comes to improving your fitness. Exercise must become a part of your routine for you to get healthier and lose weight. Incorporating tips for regular exercise will help you make the lifestyle change necessary to become the healthy and fit person you desire.
Flexibility and a Schedule
When you first start an exercise program, be flexible until you find out what works best. Take two weeks and try working out at different times during the day. Determine what fits best with your schedule and energy level. The goal is to find the time when you will be most likely stick to your plan. For example, if you often get swamped at the end of the day and work through a 6 p.m. cycling class, find an alternative for a similar morning workout and get exercise out of the way before your work day starts.
Once you determine the best time, write down your workout. Give it the same priority as other meetings and deadlines. You don't have to exercise at the same time every day unless that is ideal for you. Alternating your schedule, such as morning workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and lunchtime workouts on Tuesday and Thursday, could be a better fit for your schedule.
Try Something New
Changing the type of exercise you do from time to time not only decreases boredom, but helps your health. The body can become accustomed to the same movement when doing it over and over again. By incorporating a new activity, your muscles will respond to the challenge and your fitness will continue to improve. Try a different class at the gym, change your weight training exercises every four to six weeks and add cross-training to your running program. In addition to challenging the body in a new way, this will also reduce the risk of overtraining and injury to a specific muscle or joint.
Reward Yourself
You will likely have wonderful accomplishments through your exercise program, including losing weight, gaining the ability to lift a heavier weight or the flexibility to touch your toes. Celebrate each of these accomplishments by rewarding yourself. It can be something small such as a new song for your workout music library, a new nail polish or splurging on that exotic spice you want to cook with. Allowing yourself small, non-food rewards for each milestone you reach will keep you motivated to exercise.
Another form of reward is to sign up for an organized athletic event. Perhaps you want to walk your first 5K or compete in your first triathlon. Training for this event will motivate your exercise and the shirt, medal, race packet goodies and cheers of the crowd will serve as a substantial reward for your accomplishment.
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