1. Do it with a friend. And your honey if you can. It makes you show up. It gives the other person the opportunity to encourage and motivate your lazy self. And vice versa. I can honestly say this is the single biggest reason I’ve successfully exercised for close to 30 years. And I am a really lazy bum by nature.
2. Treat yourself to some decent workout clothes. You’ll look good. (Always important!) You’ll feel good and if you’ve made the investment you may be more inclined to continue.
3. Check yourself out in the mirror. With and without clothes. It keeps you honest.
4. Listen to your body. It will help you stay healthy and prevent overuse injuries. If you’re hurt you can’t move and if you can’t move you can’t work out.
5. Treats. If you burn the calories you can eat the calories! (Within reason of course.)
6. Mix it up. I ran for years and years and then I added walking in. And then for some reason the run just didn’t seem like such a chore. Take a class, lift some weights, and change the time of day. Go for a hike, ride your bike, get a kayak. Mix. It. Up.
7. Take a break when you need it. If you dread going you’re not going to continue. It’s okay to take a day off!!!
8. Add music to your workout. Because I virtually never walk or run alone this isn’t big for me but…when taking a class or being in the gym…the music makes it so much easier.
9. Subscribe to a magazine like Runners World or FIT or something like that. It helps you feel like you belong to the lifestyle. It’s part of who you are!
10. Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously. Laughing is allowed!
7 comments:
Love your list! and those SHOES! I hadn't thought about a magazine - are those two you'd recommend?
PERFECT list. As a fellow lifetime-fitness person, I love your "lazy-self" comments. Because, down deep, I'm really lazy . . . but just have adopted fitness as a lifestyle.
I work out so I can eat cookies. (And, well, drink wine!)
XOXO
Music is key for me. I can't work out without it. And the right equipment is really important. I always try and be cheap about it, but I have to remember in the long run I could end up hurting myself without it.
Your last tip about laughing is awesome. So many times my trainer and I wind up laughing about stuff - especially when I'm trying something new! She always says I have such a great attitude about it and I think it's because I just don't take myself too seriously. You should have seen the first burpee I ever did! We were hysterical!
Oh, and also, I like the idea of a runner's magazine so thank you for that!
I especially like the tip about magazines. I love my Yoga Journal and Weight Watchers magazines on my Nook, and read them while I'm using the exercise bike - the miles fly by!
Having fun is the key for me!
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