Making Exercise Easier

[Alex Brecher 10,515]

An earlier article talked about the nuts and bolts of an exercise plan – how you can get started at any size, level of fitness, or weight loss surgery stage. But there are still hurdles to overcome. Here are some strategies for making each day easier so you can get the most benefits from your hard efforts to work out.

Equipment

The essentials are sturdy shoes and comfortable clothes. These may be easy for an exercise pro, but where do you start if you are a beginner? Comfortable clothes can be very simple; an old t-shirt and sweatpants will suffice. If you feel better when you feel stylish, try yoga pants or capris and a top with sweat-wicking Fiber.

For shoes, beginners are probably best off going to a specialty running and walking store for expert advice and help with fitting. You will pay more at a specialty store than you would online, but the extra money is worth it, at least the first time, to make sure the shoes are right for you. You can always save money later by ordering online or going to a discount sporting goods store once you are confident you know which shoes you want. A word of wisdom: when it comes to shoes focus on function, not fashion!

Any other equipment you need depends on what activity you are planning to do. A gym usually has everything you need for its activities. If you need to get specialty equipment such as a yoga mat or boxing gloves, ask a friend or another seasoned activity buddy to help you find one that fits your needs and your budget.

A Backup Plan

Things go wrong quite often, so you had better have a backup plan if you want to have a chance of keeping up your exercise intentions. Here are a few examples.

· Plan to walk in the mall if there is a rainstorm when you are supposed to meet a friend in the park.

· Keep a pair of shoes in the trunk of the car so you can walk at lunch even if you forget to bring your workout shoes to work.

· Keep a Protein Bar and a Protein Shake with you so you can work out without a grumbling stomach on a busy day.

· Keep your phone charged so you can walk when your friend calls out of the blue and you chat for several minutes.

Fun Times

Dance if you love to dance. Stay off the treadmill if it is boring. Go swimming if you are a fish in the Water. Skip the spinning classes if you hate loud music. Play basketball if you love shooting hoops.

Get the picture?

Do what you love, and skip what you hate. Exercise should be fun for you to be able to keep it up for years, and the great news is that it can be. Here are some tips for

• Plan your entertainment, whether it is an upbeat playlist while hiking or an episode of your favorite TV show to watch while on the bike at home.
• Get social, whether by phoning a friend while you are walking in the park, or meeting up with friends to walk or hold your own boot camp.
• Prevent boredom by including different activities regularly. You could walk Mondays and Fridays, life weights Wednesdays, and show off the results of your training during your Saturday tennis matches.
• Walk with a friend to a cafe for some low-calorie Decaf coffee as a post-walk treat.

Make your workout something you enjoy, and you are way more likely to keep doing it.

Planning

Just like with your food, you are more likely to stick to your exercise intentions when you plan. It can be as simple as setting aside the time, such as 30 minutes in the morning. You may be more likely to follow through when you are more specific in your planning, such as a 15-minute walk followed by 15 minutes on the stationary bike. Planning helps you set aside the time and set aside any doubts about what you will do during that time.

Rewards

Give yourself some well-planned rewards, and your mind and body will start to associate exercise with positive things. Your rewards can be tangible, such as a massage every time you work out five times in a week. They can also be emotional, such as taking five minutes to thank yourself after a workout and think about how good you feel.

You can get or stay fit, no matter your experience with exercise. It starts with an intention and continues with some hard work and great rewards.

[Introversion 1,876]

And most importantly...find exercises that you actually like doing.

We're more likely to adhere to regular exercise if we enjoy the workouts. I personally enjoy running, while the next person may like zumba or power yoga. Still, another individual may prefer bicycling, and someone else may enjoy powerlifting and box-jumps.

There's something for everyone in the realm of physical activity.

[Newme17 3,444]

I enjoy lifting weights!!

[Introversion 1,876]

9 minutes ago, Newme17 said:

I enjoy lifting weights!!

While I don't enjoy weightlifting, I lift as heavy as I possibly can 3 times per week.

Metabolically active muscle mass is beneficial for our health. Also, the more strength I build now, the less likely I'll end up using a wheelchair or walker in old age.

My late mother was one of the Walmart shoppers we see navigating the store on a motorized scooter due to muscle weakness and lack of stamina to walk around for 30 minutes. She was in her 50s, so she wasn't particularly elderly in the traditional sense either.

We can put in the hard work now, or pay later.

[Newme17 3,444]

3 minutes ago, Introversion said:

We can put in the hard work now, or pay later.

Absolutely! My dad always talks about this. He's been telling me this for the past ten years. He does PT for a living. Always about health and how the body is designed to move. Still to this day he does his weights and cardio most everyday. He's 63 now. despite the weight I added on the past 9 years, I give credit to my dad for instilling exercise in to me. I would work out with him as a child and go for long walks on the beach with him when I was a teen. He would put me on a weight lifting program (at my request) at the gyms I enrolled in during my 20's. He did well with me on this and I'm glad I at least have the love to work my body.

I'm sorry bout your mom. I hope mine gets healed from cancer fast so she can have wls too. I can't stand to see her struggle moving and don't want to see her have to rely on a motorized chair. She's 60 now. Indeed, they are/were way too young!!!