One of my goals for fitness is to make exercise a habit. Like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. Or even like things I DON’T like to do, like dishes and laundry.
The thing is, with dishes and laundry, the effects are seen very quickly. Try going two days without doing dishes or a week without doing laundry, you and the whole household is affected.
Therein lies one of the major problems with exercise. Its benefits aren’t immediate. And neither are the affects of NOT exercising.
* If you don’t exercise today, you won’t necessarily feel any worse (although you may feel sluggish if you are used to exercising).
* Your arteries probably aren’t clogging up from not exercising today. (although they might be if you ate that Big Mac for lunch!)
* Your heart is probably not getting weaker today, this moment, because you skipped your walk. You can’t feel the difference in your muscles from not exercising today.
And every day, many of us will say:
“I’ll start exercising next week.”
“I don’t want to get up this morning, maybe tomorrow.”
“I am too busy to exercise right now.”
My goal is to make it a non-issue. It is not up for negotiation. It is just done.
Currently, I am walking 20 minutes a day, with 4 – 60 second runs mixed in. That is an increase from 15 minutes last week. And since last week, the only day I did not exercise was Sunday.
Being a part of the Fluffy Chick Challenge has helped me to stay on track when I wanted to quit. I know there are ladies waiting for my reports. Who exercised today? Who made healthier food choices? Who is drinking their water?
Having support is so key, especially when battling something that is so deeply ingrained in my brain, that exercise is bad.
What about you? Do you exercise every day?
Or on a regular basis throughout the week?
What kinds of workouts do you like to do?
I booked a trip- need I say more? I will anyway!
The moment I booked the trip- I knew it was on. No more half steppin!
I cut our finishing the kids food.
Cut out pizza (OUCH)
Cut out starch at dinner- So protein, salad & veggie.
I also cut out as much sweets as I was eating. I didnt think I was eating as much as I was- until I stopped myself for reaching for it.
I also went back to the gym & have been doing the elliptical for 30 minutes- 45 minutes when the Rocky theme starts playing in my head!
I would say this has been 5 wks in progress and I lost 10-12 pounds!! I’m not exactly sure of my beginning weight but I knew about how much. I’m closer to my goal than I thought I would be! I feel like a new person and am SO MUCH HAPPIER!!!! Go for it girl- it is SOOOO worth it…even if it isnt instantly gratifying- it will be soon enough! Lots of luck! Visiting from SITS!
Hi, I came through Time-Warp Wife…. I am also doing the wonderful study of Esther.
Yes, I love to exercise and do so nearly every day. Home videos are my favorite, especially walking. Fitness for health is very important to me.
Thanks for an encouraging post!
Found you through simple mom. I love this! I need helping staying sane quite often
I was at an eloquent 50th birthday party last night. There were many professional and successful people attending. Some I have known over the years, others I was just introduced to. When asked what I do, my usual reply is, “I am a personal trainer”. I have decided I need to elaborate on that. I go into my clients’ homes to get them into an exercise routine. A program that can go from 30 -60 min. and uses little to no equipment. If I see a client 2 times a week, within one month, that client has had enough time to start to feel stronger and notice a difference mentally and physically from exercising. It is at this point that I feel successful because, inevitably when someone has reached the point of noticing how they feel when they exercise, they notice how they feel when they don’t exercise. This is the feeling that can get them into a habit/exercise routine.My message is, do a little bit everyday. Sneak it in. When you are talking on the phone, do step ups, walking lunges or squats. Before going up the steps, do pushups against the steps. It doesn’t take much but it sure as hell feels good to experience the feeling of “fitness”.