Ah, the excitement of the New Year, new challenges, new directions and new resolutions. It all seems so positive in December how on the first of January you are going to wake up to a brand new life. You'll shake off all those old bad habits, become fit, lean and healthy.
While the goal is a great one for so many people by the second week of January they still have not done anything about it and for those who started out with great intentions the first week of January by the first week of February it's all fallen apart.
Just because it didn't all go to plan like you thought it would doesn't mean that you are a lost cause and should give up your resolution. Here are some ideas to motivate your self to start, or stay on your exercise resolution.
Did you have a plan? You can't get to where you want to be if you don't know where you are going. The vague idea of "I'm going to get back into shape by running," needs the plan of when are you going to find the time, where are you going to do it, and how often you are going to do it.
Just because you have chosen on type of exercise does not mean that you will have to be a slave to it for the rest of your life. You might enjoy running in the winter months, swimming in the summer months and weight lifting once a week. Having a exercise routine does not mean you have to have a boring exercise routine. If you start with something that you think that you will enjoy and hate it figure out why before you totally stop. One small tweak might make it enjoyable for you.
If you had all this planned and then find out that it's not going to work the way you though you need a new plan.
Your plan is to get up early and exercise but you just can't seem to get up. It's warm and toasty in your bed when that alarm goes off and you keep hitting the snooze button. You know it's dark outside, you'll have to creep around not to wake everyone else up and you'll just start tomorrow. You need a better incentive to get out of bed.
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Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2011
Morestylethancash
Just because you have chosen on type of exercise does not mean that you will have to be a slave to it for the rest of your life. You might enjoy running in the winter months, swimming in the summer months and weight lifting once a week. Having a exercise routine does not mean you have to have a boring exercise routine. If you start with something that you think that you will enjoy and hate it figure out why before you totally stop. One small tweak might make it enjoyable for you.
If you had all this planned and then find out that it's not going to work the way you though you need a new plan.
Your plan is to get up early and exercise but you just can't seem to get up. It's warm and toasty in your bed when that alarm goes off and you keep hitting the snooze button. You know it's dark outside, you'll have to creep around not to wake everyone else up and you'll just start tomorrow. You need a better incentive to get out of bed.
You could try having a light on a timer in your kitchen so you will not be stumbling around in the dark and if you need it, have the coffee maker on a timer so you will at least be able to have a quick cup of coffee before you start. Coffee is not the best thing to have before you exercise but if it will get you going then use it. Have your exercise clothes set out so you can put them on in your sleep.
If it won't bother anyone else you could set your alarm clock in the hall way or another room so you will have to get out of bed to turn it off. You will probably master the 20 second jump out of bed, hit the alarm and back into bed routine but if you keep hitting the snooze button maybe after the 3rd sprint you will realize that you actually have done this to wake yourself up not torture yourself.
If you are exercising in your home then where you exercise should be pleasant. Are you stuck in a dark dreary basement? Is the reason you're not exercising because your heart sinks at the idea of going down to the basement? It doesn't take a major renovation to make your exercise area nicer. You might need an extra light to make it brighter, you could do that with a table lamp or floor lamp, if you are looking at unfinished walls you could simply hang up a sheet or curtains in a light bright colour. Put up something that will make you happy to look at.
If you are exercising in your home then where you exercise should be pleasant. Are you stuck in a dark dreary basement? Is the reason you're not exercising because your heart sinks at the idea of going down to the basement? It doesn't take a major renovation to make your exercise area nicer. You might need an extra light to make it brighter, you could do that with a table lamp or floor lamp, if you are looking at unfinished walls you could simply hang up a sheet or curtains in a light bright colour. Put up something that will make you happy to look at.
Some people enjoy watching TV while the exercise, do you have a small TV you could hook up down there? Do you have a i-pod you could listen to? Or if you just want a bit of company you could listen to the radio. With other people just having a bit of silents in their day is a pleasure.
You had all these great plans but now you don't have the budget to join an gym, exercise program or buy exercise equipment. It's great that you are being sensible with your money but you don't need a whack of cash to get into shape.
You had all these great plans but now you don't have the budget to join an gym, exercise program or buy exercise equipment. It's great that you are being sensible with your money but you don't need a whack of cash to get into shape.
If you have a television you will find all sorts of 1/2 hour exercise programs on early in the morning. They range from yoga to aerobics to there will be something that you can try. Ask around if anybody has exercise equipment they will let you borrow. You will be shocked to find out how many people have exercise bikes, weight lifting equipment, and treadmills sitting in their basements that they have not used in years. Most of the time they will be happy to get it out of their sights so it will stop reminding them what a failure they are for not using it. If they offer to sell it to you make sure that it is still in great working order, check to see if it has had any recalls, and shop around to see how much it is selling for on-line and in places that sell used equipment.
Your local library will have exercise CD that you will be able to borrow as long as you have a library card. They might be a year or two old but that's great for you because if you find a CD that you absolutely love you will be able to buy it cheaply second hand on-line or at used CD stores.
Walking is one of the best exercises you can do and probably one of the cheapest. You will need a pair of shoes that are comfortable to walk in. If you get bored with the route you take find another route or walk around in the mall. Check on line to see if there are any paths, trails or walking routes in your area. If you like to socialize see if there are any walking clubs that meet informally.
For many people their plan was to join a gym, use their treadmills and exercise first thing in the morning. You got a great deal on your membership and plan to start right after the holidays. So the first week in January you drive into the parking lot of the gym and you can't even find a parking spot. Inside the treadmills are all booked for the next two hours. What's plan B going to be?
For many people their plan was to join a gym, use their treadmills and exercise first thing in the morning. You got a great deal on your membership and plan to start right after the holidays. So the first week in January you drive into the parking lot of the gym and you can't even find a parking spot. Inside the treadmills are all booked for the next two hours. What's plan B going to be?
You could just wait
it out and join an exercise class for the first month that starts in
the morning, try different equipment or try showing up at the gym at a
different time of day. By the first week of February the parking lot of
the gym will only be half full, the crowds around the treadmills will
have dwindled and you will be able to get your time in. By March you
might be one of the few people in the gym first thing in the morning.So
if you have a plan to use the gym, have a plan B and wait for everyone
else to drop out.
Even if it takes you fits and starts to get going don't get down on yourself, just try to figure out what is going wrong and fit it. Just because it's called a New Year's Resolution doesn't mean it has to start on New Year's Day.
Even if it takes you fits and starts to get going don't get down on yourself, just try to figure out what is going wrong and fit it. Just because it's called a New Year's Resolution doesn't mean it has to start on New Year's Day.
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Photography and Content
Copyright Ingrid Talpak 2011
Morestylethancash
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