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Many people find that the hardest part of an exercise program is staying on it for more than a few months. Studies reveal that the most drop outs occur within the first six months of a self monitored exercise program. Although they have good intentions when they get started they lack the one big thing that makes an exercise program stick, a habit. How do you get an exercise 'habit'? Well, this can take up to 6 months or even longer for many people. It is simply repeating something enough times to make it stick. Even if you exercise once a week but, if you could keep it going for months and years you would be cementing that habit firmly into your life. Yet for many people they start off exercising three or four or more times each week setting the bar so high they cannot maintain it long term. Anyone can do it in the short term, like a few weeks, that is easy, but what about months and years down the track? Most people have long since crashed and burned by then. Yet that is where the real results are, that continual plodding away week after week is where it is at. The problem is often when people start an exercise program they expect to see results quickly. After all everywhere we look there are messages such as 'lose 10 pounds in 10 days' advertising words like 'quick', 'fast', and 'easy'. But in reality it does not happen like this. Before you can lose weight, improve health and really get in shape there are certain lessons you need to learn so you can maintain it long term - like for life. So, the first part of creating a permanent exercise habit is to get your mindset in order so it is helping you establish your habit rather than preventing your progress. First you need to understand that when you exercise with enough intensity (degree of difficulty) to make a difference to your body you need to eat in a manner to support the program. Many people starting an exercise program have been eating so poorly for so long they can hardly make it through the day. Finding enough energy and strength for their program is simply not possible. So, to get healthy and increase energy, get eating. Small meals every 2-3 hours that total 5-7 for the whole day are the ticket. These meals should contain 20 grams of protein and the balance made up of raw and cooked vegetables. Try and eat unprocessed whole foods (a carrot, an orange, a tomato etc) as much as possible. These foods will build your health, help you lose weight if needed and allow you to exercise properly. For many people they have trouble finding the motivation to exercise. But if you are truly healthy with tons of energy there is no way you can sit around and not be active. Lack of motivation to exercise is often because of poor health from years or decades of eating poor quality processed food laden with sugar, fat and unhealthy chemicals. It is up to each of us to find the motivation to be an active person. There are really only two choices we can all make. We can choose to live in a weak, flabby, over fat body, prone to disease or we can have abundant health and energy and look and feel great at any age. But that is not going to happen unless we find a way to cement a proper exercise program that contains strength training exercise into your life. There is simply not enough activity in our modern day lives anymore so it is up us to replace it with structured exercise that works our muscles keeping them strong along with our bones and the rest of our body. Everything in your life depends on your success in this area, your family commitments, your career, your enjoyment from life, your risk of disease and your longevity. So, get started and build yourself an exercise habit that will return more than you ever put into it.
Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download my free ebook "Ive Found the Fountain of Youth- Let Me Show You Too!" here: Ways To Look Younger For Free Fitness Report here Fitness Weight Loss Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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