No matter what goals you want to achieve in your life—whether
you are looking to get in shape, eliminate stress, or improve your personal relationships—I
encourage you to make daily exercise a priority. When you choose to make good
health a high priority, you discover ways of adjusting your schedule and life
in order to exercise and eat right.
There are many days when I don’t feel like putting in time
on the treadmill or working out. But when I have these thoughts, I alter my perception.
First, I think about how I’ll feel after exercising. Next, I’ll think
about something that I could do that day to add variety, like listening to my
favorite music. Then I go into the ritual of putting on my shoes and workout clothes.
Often, this is enough to stop the chatter in my mind. Once you set your body in
motion, you’ve won half the battle.
It also helps to review all your reasons for wanting and needing
to work out.
When people come to me for weight-loss help, I ask them to list their
specific goals. For example: “I need to lose 50 pounds.” Why? I ask.
Usually, their first answer is to “look better.” But this is a surface
goal—about wishes. These goals are not very motivating.
On the other hand, inner personal goals reflect real priorities.
When you can get to the reasons behind wanting to look better, you stand
a much greater chance of success. For instance, “Every day when my kids
come home, I snap at them because I’m so tired. My husband and I seldom
make love because I don’t feel good about myself. When I look in the mirror,
I don’t like the way I look. I don’t have the confidence I used to
have.”
Your goal now isn’t just thinner thighs or a tighter tummy.
It’s improving your entire life and the way you feel about yourself. If
you really want something, your strong reasons for it will motivate you to make
it a priority. They will be stronger than your inertia or laziness.
What’s Your Excuse?
Here are five of the most common excuses for not exercising:
“I have no time to exercise.” Get up earlier two mornings a week. Ask your spouse or friend to help with dinner or dishes so that you can
work out. Meet a friend before or after work for a workout. Work out to a favorite
TV show (live or taped). Divide your workout into two parts—some in the
morning, some in the evening. Take a walk during your lunch break.
“I’m too tired to exercise.” Exercise in the morning when your energy is at its peak and the day’s events can’t interfere.
Get enough sleep. Shift your mind-set. Instead of focusing on how tired you are,
focus on how good you’ll feel after working out. Having a ritual helps to
get you in the mood.
“Exercising bores me.” Think of some fresh options. Change your attitude. Think of exercise as time for yourself. Fantasize while working
out. For example, you might imagine yourself as singer entertaining your fans
with your talent.
“I don’t get the results I want.” There’s
no such thing as “not getting results.” You may not get down to your
target weight as fast as you would like, but you’re doing yourself a lot
of good.
“Exercising is too expensive.” Put the cost of exercise
in perspective. What is the real cost measured against the benefits gained? An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. PE
