Some Thoughts on Exercising

I have been exercising regularly for nearly a month and have some suggestions for those of you who are looking for ideas to spice up your exercise routine.  These things have helped to keep me motivated:

Set a schedule- Find a time that works best for you.  I work out in the mornings on days that I don’t have other obligations such as school or work.  I like to work out early in my day because I enjoy the energized feeling I have throughout much of my day as a result of exercising.  Once you have set your schedule it is important that you stick with it.  The longer you follow your schedule, the easier it becomes to follow your routine.

Find a partner- Going to the gym is a lot more enjoyable when you have someone to come along with you.  Not only do they provide you with some company, but they can also motivate you on days that you just aren’t feeling it.  I recommend finding someone who has no issue with dragging you out of bed by your foot while calling you mean names.

Bring some music- I like to bring along my MP3 player when I am working out.  I crank up the volume and lose myself in the songs.  High energy music makes me work harder, so I listen to a lot of Silverstein and Hatebreed.  You may not enjoy listening to that type of music, so find something that gets you excited and energized.

Go easy at first- When I started working out, I didn’t try going in with an extreme attitude of running 5 miles or doing 1,000 sit-ups.  I started off easy just to get myself back into the routine.  I spent some time on the treadmill and eliptical, slowly increasing my workout length and intensity.  I try to push myself a little harder each time I go, but if I’m not feeling it some days, I don’t force myself to go hard.  If you try to push yourself over your limit, you will burn out and eventually you will stop going.  Stay within your limitations, but try to improve those limitations gradually.

Mix it up- You don’t always have to go to the gym in order to get exercise.  I went hiking a few weeks ago, and I worked harder that day that I ever have in the gym.  Not only was I exercising, I was enjoying what I was doing.  If you have an interest in a sport or other physical activity, pursue that interest.  Maybe you enjoy skateboarding, snowboarding, swimming, or playing tennis.  Whatever it is that you enjoy, do it.

Track your progress- If you are trying to lose weight, track your progress every couple of weeks.  I don’t recommend weighing yourself daily as weight tends to fluctuate within short periods of time.  When you begin to see progress, you will be motivated to keep working.  Remember that seeing a change can take time and won’t happen overnight.  It took a while to get “soft”, and it is going to take a while to turn things around.

Pretty easy list of recommendations.  Try them out and see what you think.  Exercising shouldn’t feel like a burdeon, and at first, it will probably feel that way, but after a while of doing it, you will become addicted.  You will look forward to your workout.  Hang in there!!!