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Get Yourself Motivated to Exercise

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By Alan Freishtat

Finding all the reasons in the world not to exercise is easy.  " I don't have time." "I look ridiculous." "It's raining."  "It's too hot."  "It's too cold."  "I'm too tired."  "I hate exercise."  Couch potatoes have hundreds of excuses not to exercise.  Even those of us that understand the importance of exercise, have problems from time to time motivating ourselves to go and do what we know we need to do. Even people, who belong to a gym or health club, may notice the months slipping by (as well as there money), without finding the time to workout.  How can we overcome these roadblocks so that we can do what we need to for the sake of our health and well-being? 

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The single most common barrier to exercise is a perceived lack of time.  It's very easy to convince yourself that your morning session can wait until after lunch, then after dinner and then until tomorrow.  In the hectic world that we live in today, if we don't prioritize and schedule our exercise in like everything else, it may just not happen.  Why should we make exercise a priority? We need to make time for physical fitness, because research has shown that exercise in not only healthful, but can make people more productive.  Even just 30 minutes per day, done consistently has tremendous health benefits. 
Many people claim that they just don't like to exercise.  The first step is to find an exercise that you do like to do.  Try hiking or walking with a friend.  Put on headphones from your Walkman or Diskman when you are exercising and listen to your favorite music or Torah tape. 
We are often discouraged from maintaining an exercise routine, when we don't see immediate results from our workouts.  The first rule of thumb is to stay off the scale.  Think about what progress you have made even if the weight isn't coming off as quickly as you would like.  Can you walk further or faster than when you started?  Can you lift heavier weights or do more repetitions?  Do you feel healthier and more energized?
Another problem is that many people have unrealistic expectations and when they have trouble reaching them, they want to give up.  Exercise is progressive.  You need to have patience and set realistic short-term goals for yourself.  You don't have to run a marathon to reap the health benefits of exercise. 
Finally, get yourself some individual attention.  A personal fitness trainer or lifestyle coach may be just what you need.  They can help you identify barriers and overcome them.  Most people need encouragement and setting up an appointment is one sure way to keep you consistent. 
Overcoming obstacles and staying motivated are essential to "adding hours to your day, days to your year, and years to your life." 
Alan Freishtat is a Certified Personal Trainer certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE ) practicing privately in Jerusalem, Israel.  His specialties include weight loss, lower back problems, stress management, cholesterol and blood pressure problems, general fitness improvement and fibromyalgia.    He is available for consultations, assessments and personalized workout programs.  He can be reached at 972-2-651-8502 or 972-50-555-7175. His email is alsand@netvision.net.il and fax 972-2-653-6903.


Posted by FJN Admin on 03/23 at 07:28 PM • Hits: 792



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