Keep your eye on the why. Why are you working out in first place? To lose weight? To have more energy? Write it down and say it out loud. Get connected to how you want to feel and it will help you stay connected on what you are trying to achieve and why. The first step is important to get clear on your why.
Pick one key habit. Yes only one! Pick 2 and you will fail at both. Small steps equal big transformations. We tend to jump in 100% cutting out all sugar, eating nothing but lettuce, working out twice a day. This is unrealistic and sets you up for failure from the beginning.
Schedule it. Steven Covey says, "Don't prioritize your schedule, schedule your priorities." Make it sacred, non-negotiable.
Learn to be stronger than your excuses. Be honest with yourself. Are you really skipping workouts for a meeting or do you just not feel like doing it today? And if you do keep making excuses then reevaluate your goals. Are you setting yourself up for failure? Chunk them down into something more realistic. Walk for 10 minutes a day instead of going to exercise class 5x a week.
Stop beating yourself up. One bad eating day will not make you fat and one workout will not make you thin.
Developing a regular exercise program. Working to suit your particular body type and lifestyle will have numerous rewards. The challenge is to find the types of exercise you enjoy most, and then build it into your life. Think about what you loved to do as a kid. Did you dance, bike, or hike?
Listen to your body. "Know that movement is a lot like food. Once you understand how different types of movement nourish your body in different ways, you can put together a menu of activities to keep yourself in balance. Feeling frail and unfocused? Try a vigorous exercise to make you feel stable and powerful like kickboxing or running. Feeling tight and tense? Try a gentler exercise to increase lightness and flexibility like swimming or yoga." (Source from Integrative Nutrition Lecture on Exercise is Medicine.)
Find a time that works best for you. If you hate mornings don't sign up for 6A.M. workout class. Just as some people think more clearly in the morning and others think more clearly at night, some people prefer to exercise first thing in the morning, while others prefer to exercise later in the day. There’s no right or wrong; it’s simply a matter of personal preference.
Remember: Physical activity can take simple and modest forms. Take the stairs instead of the elevator to your office or apartment. It can be taking your dog for a walk or your children to the park. "Remember: A 30-minute brisk walk every other day is better than a panicked gym session once a month." Be experimental and find a routine you can nourish yourself with on a daily basis.
Find motivation and support. Change it up! Get online and find a new workout site, hire a trainer, try a new class. Get an exercise buddy or an online support group to keep you accountable. Find an exercise group that Is uplifting and motivating moving towards the same goals as you are.
What will get YOU moving? What will keep YOU consistent with your exercise? Hugs, Traci