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Get fit motivation
How to get into a regular exercise routine.
If you’re not used to exercising then start slowly- remember that you're trying to get into a regular routine. Work towards one hour of activity every day. You can break this into five or ten minute blocks to make it easier.
Motivate yourself:
- Think about why you want to get fit. Is it for the health benefits? Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to feel more confident and better about yourself? Write down these goals and go back to them any time you start thinking of giving up.
- Decide on an exercise schedule that fits into your daily life. If you get bored easily, make time for a mix of different activities- maybe swimming on Monday evenings, yoga on Wednesday evenings, hiking with friends on Saturday morning- it’s up to you, but once you decide on a day and time make sure to stick to it.
- Make a personal commitment to try a new activity each season: hike, bike, dance, bowl, fish, camp, ice-skate, swim, walk, run, skip rope, hurl, tennis, football.
- Reward yourself every week that you stick to a regular exercise routine. Choose something you really enjoy- making time for yourself to relax, eating out or having a sleep in at the weekend.
- Persuade a friend or family member to get fit with you. Then, if one of you is feeling lazy, the other will be there to provide motivation!
- Create a new morning routine. Start your day with 10 minutes of movement indoors or outdoors. Some stretching and a short walk first thing in the morning can be better than caffeine.
Even if you HATE sport there’s still plenty of exercise for you:
- Try to walk as much as possible. That means avoiding lifts and not taking the bus unless you’re going a long distance.
- When you start exercising, don’t push yourself to exhaustion. The right amount of exercise should leave you breathless, but not purple and gasping!
- Dance! Who doesn’t come off the dance floor looking sweaty and out of breath? (It helps if you’ve been snogging the life out of someone as well!)
- Clean your house, not only will it smell better but you’ll get plenty of exercise while doing it.
- You might think it’s only for parents and neighbours, but a bit of gardening or mowing the lawn is a fine way to get fresh air and exercise.
- Next time you’re making a bet with someone, up the challenge: make a deal with your friends to all get fit together! And remind everyone of it in the sober light of the morning after.
- There’s usually loads of interesting classes going on at community centres, sports centres and swimming pools, visit them and see if anything takes your fancy.
- Check out YouTube for exercise ideas and tips. Topics covered in YT vids range from weight lifting to yoga to salsa.
