7 Ways To Guarantee You Stick To Your Workout Program
October 1, 2007
1. Begin Looking at Exercise Differently. Think of exercise as a way of life. Do not look as exercise as a chore or task that hurts you. Exercise is probably the most inexpensive and fun thing you can do for your life. Find something in exercise that you enjoy doing such as meeting new people, getting out of work, or your means of stress relief. It will be like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. The sooner you view exercise as a activity of health and way of life, the sooner your results will show up.
2. Think Small. This is probably the hardest part of exercise for people to understand and follow through with. Most people want the results to happen now and start their workout program going all out. This is the number 1 reason men and women stop exercising. They expect too much. Breakdown your goals into sections or parts and choose some realistic goals. Before you know it, you lost those annoying 10 pounds and or health has improved ten fold.
Overcoming Resistance to Exercise
September 9, 2007
Are You Destined to Sit on the Couch?
If someone mentions exercise do you think, “I hate to exercise. There’s no way I’m doing that. Exercise is hard, it’s a drag, it takes too much time.” These types of beliefs may be keeping you from discovering a fun way to add to your weight loss plan.
I’m a prime example. When I was younger I didn’t like participating in sports. I felt I was clumsy, I couldn’t throw a ball to save my life, and I’d rather not try to catch one (might hurt myself). I never felt confident about my ability on the practice field and I didn’t have a competitive spirit. I didn’t really care if I won, which tended to anger my teammates. So, if anyone talked to me about exercise I’d say, “Thanks, but no thanks, I hate sports.” But something funny happened on the way to the locker room; I discovered weight lifting. Keep your eyes and ears open and you may discover some activity you love.
The Abs… More Important Than You Think
August 20, 2007
What comes to your mind when I say the word "abs"? Do you think of the infomercials advertising "6 second abs" or the latest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue? Most people focus on training their abs to look thinner or sexier. But, do you realize the importance of your abs in everyday activities? Most yoga instructors do. And that’s why one of the focuses of yoga is to build your core abdominal strength.
Important for posture
Your abs attach to your spine and pelvis, helping balance your back in good posture. Often times, when your back is not supported in the correct posture by your abdominals and back muscles, back pain occurs. Did you know that back pain accounts for approximately 50 billion dollars in health care costs each year. This is not something to be taken lightly — so remember — one of the best ways to prevent back pain is to strengthen your abs.
It often takes a conscious effort to sit in good posture. But, even if you get into a good sitting posture, you will need the abdominal and back endurance to maintain it! How are you sitting at your computer right now? I would bet most of you are sitting in a slumped posture?.some more than others. To sit in good posture, you should have a slight inward curve in your back with your ears directly over your shoulders.
Top 10 Reasons To Exercise In The Morning
July 30, 2007
If I had to pick a single factor that I thought
was most important in a successful exercise or
weight loss program, it would be to exercise first
thing in the morning - every morning! Some mornings,
you may just be able to fit in a 10 minute walk,
but it’s important to try to do something every
morning.
So why mornings?…
1. Over 90% of people who exercise *consistently*,
exercisein the morning. If you want to exercise
consistently, odds are in your favor if you exercise
first thing in the morning.
2. When you exercise early in the morning, it
“jump starts” your metabolism and keeps it elevated
for hours, sometimes up to 24 hours! That means
you’re burning more calories all day long just
because you exercised in the morning!
3. When you exercise in the morning you’ll be
*energized* for the day! Personally, I feel
dramatically different on days when I have and
haven’t exercised in the morning.
Top 10 Tips For Finding Time For Exercise
July 9, 2007
If you’re like most people, finding time for
exercise is difficult. Here are my “top 10″
tips to help you in that quest..
1. Make exercise a priority. We all make time
in our lives for the things that are most
important to us. If I told you I’d give you a
million dollars if you exercised everyday for
the next 30 days, would you do it? Sure you
would, because it would suddenly become a
priority. If you’re serious about finding time
for exercise, then it must be a priority in
your life.
2. Block out the same time period everyday
for exercise. This way it becomes part of your
daily routine just like brushing your teeth.
Vehemently guard this time period. It is your
time to take care of yourself.
3. Exercise first thing in the morning. This
is when your exercise time is least likely to
get interrupted by other things.
4. Turn off the television. The average adult
spends 16 hours per week watching television.
Interval Training
June 18, 2007
Are you in an exercise rut? Do you want to kick your fitness level up a notch and increase your endurance? Would you like to add more intensity to you workout? Interval training is a good way to achieve all of these goals in a safe and systematic manner.Interval training is simply a matter of alternating high intensity exercise and low intensity exercise. It allows one to get the benefits of the high intensity work while giving the body some rest time. It allows one to extend a workout time period and build endurance gradually.Running on a flat surface burns calories and gives your heart and lungs a great cardiovascular workout. Running up hill challenges your muscles, heart, and lungs, burning more calories and providing additional toning. But taking a 30 minute run up hill or on a steeply inclined treadmill would quickly exhaust most of us, or likely force us to stop early. However, running up hill then back down, or up hill then on flat ground would allow for high intensity work counter balanced by intervals of slower periods of active recovery. Interval training burns more calories and pumps more blood than continuous lower intensity exercise because it includes intervals of energy and oxygen-hungry work.Because interval training burns a lot of calories and provides good muscle work, it may help you save time. A pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of bricks. Likewise, running one mile burns the same number of calories as walking one mile. But walking one mile takes a lot more time. If your goal is calorie burning and toning, and you are short on time, then interval training does more, faster. Just remember that improving cardiovascular health requires aerobic exercise of 30 ? 60 minutes, so don’t make all of your workouts quickies, save those for when you’re in a rush. Interval training can also be helpful if your goal is to move yourself up to the next level of endurance and fitness. Maybe you have been trying to start a running program, but can’t seem to maintain such a demanding exercise. Interval training is, in fact, one of the most effective ways to train the body. Marathoners commonly use this method to train for an up-coming race. A good program is to run for 4 minutes then walk at a good clip for 1 minute, or do a 3/2 interval. Your body will work hard then rest (while remaining active), work hard then rest. Your heart, lungs and muscles will make the transition to running, running farther, or running faster in a safe and productive manner. There are a lot of ways to add intervals to your workout. If you are already a runner add hills or speed segments. If aerobics classes are your genre, add explosive moves like jumps or sprints. Include segments of speed walking in your normal walking routine or take the incline of your treadmill up a little higher at timed intervals.Interval training is productive and can add excitement to your ho-hum exercise routine. Doing interval work in place of your normal routine, once a month, once a week, or once a day, is a good and effective plan. E-mail me if you need suggestions on how to intensify, endure and enjoy. You’ll be glad you did.
Molly Setnick graduated from Baylor University with a BS in Health/Fitness Studies. She is certified as a Physical Fitness Specialist through The Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas and is AFAA certified to teach aerobics. She co-writes a weekly column for the Texas Jewish Post with Jessica Setnick, MS, RD/LD called "Making Fitness Fit". She can be reached at www.FitInFitness.com.
Finding Time to Exercise
May 27, 2007
Exercising During Commercials
I’m getting up an hour earlier these days. At first I said I’d never be able to do it: I was already sleep deprived rising at 6 AM how would I ever get up at 5 AM? I’d never be able to get to sleep earlier (this is still true), and a hundred other reasons why it wouldn’t work. And then I tried it, and it does work. I’m still sleep deprived, but that extra hour in the morning is a Godsend. I love it.
How do you Present Ideas to Yourself?
So why did it take me so long to “just do it?” Probably the way I presented the idea to myself. Notice I used words such as “never” and “already” as in “I’m already sleep deprived.” I kept telling myself it wouldn’t work, that it was a bad idea and until the first time I actually tried it, I secretly believed when the alarm rang, I’d just turn it off and go back to sleep. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy getting up early. Mornings are my best time of day. I’m the most productive in the morning so it makes sense to give myself an extra hour.
3 Steps To Starting a Successful Fall Exercise Program
May 8, 2007
Ah, the crisp cool breeze, the invigorating feel of the outdoors as the leaves start to turn colors, the sound of kids laughing on their way to school.
Fall is the time for new beginnings. New classes, new curriculum, new programs, new start. You’ve relaxed over the summer and now you’re ready to reach higher, push further.
You’re pumped. You’re excited about starting a new season. You’re ready to tackle new challenges.
There’s nothing like feeling the momentum of new beginnings. If you’ve been wanting to lose weight and get into amazing shape, why not use this momentum to your advantage?
Momentum is one of the most underrated factors in achieving a better body.
Momentum can give you what you need to start an exercise program, stick with it and reap major rewards.
As we all know, it’s very easy to do something when we feel excited about it. This is not a bad thing if you learn to use it.
This initial excitement does wear off eventually, but by the time it does, you could be so far ahead already, that maintenance is easy.
Why not use this initial excitement to kick-start your treadmill exercise program?
