It’s no secret that the best ways to lose weight all require that we dig deep and actually do some exercising. Just knowing this is true, doesn’t make it any more fun or make us more eager to get started. Maintaining an exercise regimen is a chore for even the most ambitious among us and if YOU don’t look forward to your morning workout, here’s a few pointers that will help.
Particularly at first, we all hate exercising, but that changes. Before you know it, you start looking forward to your workouts! You start feeling like something is wrong or missing if you skip a day. You can stop giggling now. It happens, (yes, even to you).
The tough part is the beginning. We know we have to do it, so we muster all our mental reserves and force ourselves. For a little while anyway – the vast majority end up quitting in frustration, never knowing how close they may have been to a breakthrough. There are some strategies and tips you can employ to help you learn to love working out. When you’ve attained that level, weight loss becomes much easier. Almost an afterthought.
If your snooze alarm gets more of a workout than you do, simply because you can’t face another day of mindless sit-ups, leg lifts or endless miles around the track, hang in there! Have hope!
Crunches may strengthen the core, but there’s other ways too. Did you ever stop to realize that swimming is every bit as good an aerobic exercise as jogging? Most people think it’s better, and not as hard on the joints! Try dancing! Get some cd’s and dance your heart out in the privacy of your own home. Get a bicycle and tour your community. It’s fun and you’ll get a little sun too. The point is, that for every dreaded, mind numbing exercise you do, there is a fun alternative. If you are having fun, you will stick with the program and you will be well on the way to losing weight and keeping it lost.
True, some of the alternatives may not be as ideal as the old boring standbys. They exist for a reason. But that’s ok. Remember, actually doing a slightly less effective exercise that you enjoy and will continue doing, is far better than quitting and NOT DOING an exercise that may be perfect. As your muscles get in shape, they will crave the daily exercise. At that point, it’s a simple matter to start slowly trading out the lesser routines for the better ones. Now that you are in shape and like working out, they won’t seem so bad any longer.
You can even use your workout as a home beautification project! Park the power mower and buy a push mower. Make it a personal challenge to mow the lawn faster every week. Vigorously rake the grass and all those leaves – dump the blower. Try to work in some heavy lifting gardening.
Do you live where it gets cold? Why suffer another jog when sledding and ice skating with friends is such a good workout – and fun too! (Beware of the dreaded after skating hot chocolate.) The new Wii games can give you an aerobic tennis or dance workout. You could even entice the kids to get off the couch and join in! Just be sure they think it’s a game and not that you’ve gotten them to turn off the tv and exercise.
Get a workout buddy. We all need a little push from time to time and a training partner will help immensely. You can help each other keep motivated. As you get in better and better shape, you can move from playing tennis on the Wii to actually doing it on a tennis court – you’ll have a partner! You can each set certain goals and challenges and make it a competition.
Once you get back in the gym, talk to a trainer. They can help you design an effective yet safe program. Plus, keeping you motivated and on track is their whole reason for being there. Your trainer is an expert at helping you get past the hurdles of feeling boredom, injury and getting overwhelmed. Use them.
Don’t try to tough it out on your own. Most gyms offer exercise classes at a very reasonable rate or even free with membership. Take one! You never can tell, maybe the best friend you will ever have is taking that class right now and is just waiting to meet you. The classes help keep you motivated, they push you a little harder than you may do on your own and you’ll learn some new exercises. If cash is a little skimpy right now, most community centers offer a free or low cost exercise class. Check into it today!
Try these ideas and soon (faster than you think) your workouts will no longer be a dreaded task that you have to struggle through. They will be the highlight of your day! You will have found one of the best ways to lose weight and will have mastered your body. Above all else, never quit.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for checking out my site dedicated to health, weight loss and muscle building. I created this site to document my progress and to tell you what has worked best for me.