Guest Column
Sticking to the program
Date Published: March 2008
Health & Fitness
If you're like many individuals, you'll start an exercise routine, only to quit a few weeks into it.
Starting the exercise program is the easiest part, sticking to your program regularly and consistently is the challenge for most people.
Research shows that of those individuals who start an exercise program, 50 percent of them will quit within three to six months.
How you set up your program will greatly determine whether you stick with it. The following tips are to help you make exercise a life long habit, as natural and necessary as a shower or brushing your teeth.
n Set realistic goals - set both a short-term goal and long-term goal. Make sure that they fit into your lifestyle and are achievable. Make sure to re-evaluate your goals often. Define what specifically your goal is, why you want to attain it, and how you can attain it.
n Gain fitness knowledge - read books on fitness and nutrition; schedule a session with a fitness professional. You will learn new techniques and find fresh motivation.
n Don't push yourself too hard - or you will want to quit. Both progress and results take time. Slow and steady wins the race.
n Make sure you use proper technique while exercising - injury is the number one reason for quitting an exercise program.
n Vary or change your routine - put variety into your exercise program, cycle one day, walk the next. If you like group activities try an aerobics class. Variety helps prevent boredom as well as helping to keep you from reaching a plateau.
n Keep it convenient - choose an exercise that doesn't require a lot of skill or one that you can do anytime, anywhere. Or if you go to the gym, choose a location that's close to your home or office.
n Plan ahead - identify possible excuses. Have workout clothes ready and any accessories like a jogging stroller or rain gear readily accessible to make it easy to get out and get exercising. Schedule your exercise session into your appointments and make it a top priority in your life.
n Recruit an exercise partner - you'll be more likely to continue if you have someone to hold you accountable to your exercise program and you'll also have someone to share your successes with.
n If you prefer to workout alone - find some good heart-pumping music or audio books that you can't wait to listen to and as a reward for exercising only give yourself permission to listen to them while you are working out.
n Don't worry if you miss a workout or two - just get right back to your regular routine and you will feel better instantly.
n Always give yourself permission to shorten your workout - you may find that once you get started exercising you will feel better and realize why would you want to cut short something that makes you feel better?
Best of luck and keep exercising!
- Debra Skelton is a licensed nurse and owner of Motivative Health Fitness, an in-home personal fitness training business. v
Starting the exercise program is the easiest part, sticking to your program regularly and consistently is the challenge for most people.
Research shows that of those individuals who start an exercise program, 50 percent of them will quit within three to six months.
How you set up your program will greatly determine whether you stick with it. The following tips are to help you make exercise a life long habit, as natural and necessary as a shower or brushing your teeth.
n Set realistic goals - set both a short-term goal and long-term goal. Make sure that they fit into your lifestyle and are achievable. Make sure to re-evaluate your goals often. Define what specifically your goal is, why you want to attain it, and how you can attain it.
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n Gain fitness knowledge - read books on fitness and nutrition; schedule a session with a fitness professional. You will learn new techniques and find fresh motivation.
n Don't push yourself too hard - or you will want to quit. Both progress and results take time. Slow and steady wins the race.
n Make sure you use proper technique while exercising - injury is the number one reason for quitting an exercise program.
n Vary or change your routine - put variety into your exercise program, cycle one day, walk the next. If you like group activities try an aerobics class. Variety helps prevent boredom as well as helping to keep you from reaching a plateau.
n Keep it convenient - choose an exercise that doesn't require a lot of skill or one that you can do anytime, anywhere. Or if you go to the gym, choose a location that's close to your home or office.
n Plan ahead - identify possible excuses. Have workout clothes ready and any accessories like a jogging stroller or rain gear readily accessible to make it easy to get out and get exercising. Schedule your exercise session into your appointments and make it a top priority in your life.
n Recruit an exercise partner - you'll be more likely to continue if you have someone to hold you accountable to your exercise program and you'll also have someone to share your successes with.
n If you prefer to workout alone - find some good heart-pumping music or audio books that you can't wait to listen to and as a reward for exercising only give yourself permission to listen to them while you are working out.
n Don't worry if you miss a workout or two - just get right back to your regular routine and you will feel better instantly.
n Always give yourself permission to shorten your workout - you may find that once you get started exercising you will feel better and realize why would you want to cut short something that makes you feel better?
Best of luck and keep exercising!
- Debra Skelton is a licensed nurse and owner of Motivative Health Fitness, an in-home personal fitness training business. v
Debra Skelton is a certified fitness consultant and a licensed nurse and is the owner of Motivative Health & Fitness, an in-home fitness training business. She can be reached at deb@gotatrainer.com.
