How to Make Exercise a Habit

We all know that there are huge physical and mental benefits of exercise. Along with a healthy nutritional program, you can expect to lose fat, gain muscle tone, improve your energy levels, and elevate your mood.

The hardest part is actually getting started exercising and then keeping it up. It takes a little while before you get hooked and the benefits come on gradually. However, after only a few weeks most people begin to feel healthier, happier and more energized. When you stop exercising on a regular basis, most people start to feel lethargic or “blue” for no obvious reason. It isn’t that you are more depressed, it is just that you have gotten used to feeling good from exercise.

Here are some ideas to get started and keep it up:

- Make a commitment for 30 days and stick to it. After, make another 30 day commitment.
- Write down specific goals – when, where, how long etc.
- Plan ahead – Don’t just say that you are going to workout tomorrow – put it as an item in your schedule.
- Record your progress – your weight, measurements, number of push-ups, distance on a treadmill, or anything that you can measure that you can improve upon – it will all motivate you.
- Take progress picture of yourself – this will motivate you to get working out, and it will also encourage you to keep seeing results. (here is an example of me)
- Start small and gradually improve every workout – try to make every workout just a little bit harder, but don’t start out too hard either.
- Make yourself the number 1 priority – this is your health and well being. Make your workout a priority to get done if at all possible. Have you ever been too busy to not use the bathroom for more than 24 hours?
- Find a workout partner – this helps most people and makes you even more accountable to show up.
- Do a variety of workouts – don’t just do the same thing every day. Do different cardio, weight lifting and fitness classes to keep from becoming bored.
- Distract yourself – bring some music that you love that gets you moving or even podcasts that you enjoy on an MP3 player. Why do you think all fitness classes have music?

The simplest way to keep exercising on a regular basis, just might be the most obvious. Once you start, you get a lot of momentum, and it is easier and easier to keep going. Just do it!