Exercising EVERY day

[semielliptical]

I'm celebrating Thanksgiving (in a very low-key way) so this seemed like an appropriate time to write a bit about why I'm thankful for this community, and how I'm working at exercising EVERY day.

My exercise goals since I joined this community have focused on exercising regularly, not on a particular fitness goal. Which is not because I'm completely satisfied with my level of fitness, but because I've always had trouble sticking to any kind of exercise routine. I would invariably fall out of the habit and then go for months with only occasional exercise.

What has helped me exercise (almost) every day:

1. This community: checking in provides accountability, and reading other members' positive posts and comments about exercise provides encouragement. Thanks to all of you!

2. Exercise calendar: I use an app on my iPod, Daily Deeds, which gives me a visual record of exercise (and other daily goals.) Of course any calendar would work.

3. Attainable goals: when I first joined the community I think I started with a daily goal of 20 minutes a day, so it was difficult to make an excuse *not* to fit exercise in to any day, no matter how busy.

4. Planning and scheduling: as I increased my goal, I had to plan to be sure I could fit in an exercise session, particularly if I wanted to do anything vigorous. I'm busy at work in the fall, with some very long days, so I really needed to get over my habit of staying in bed as long as possible in the morning. That has been a challenge, but setting a goal of exercising first thing in the morning 4 days a week has helped. Though recently I've realized it might be more effective to exercise first thing *every* week day. I'm very good at coming up with excuses to stay in bed if there's any possibility I can put it off to another day!


What helps you stick to your exercise goal, whether that's exercising every day, or a few days a week, or something else?

Comments

[rydra_wong]

Hrm. What works for me:

Exercise logging. I keep a file on my computer (in Scrivener, in fact). It's useful to be able to look back at a glance and see that it's a while since I had a proper rest day, or that I haven't done any shoulder openers lately. And I don't like having to write that I didn't do anything.

Making it a rule that I have to do something every day (unless I'm ill or injured or it's a planned rest day), just to stay in touch with my body. "Something" can be ten minutes of slow gentle stretching, and if I'm exhausted sometimes it is. But once you get into the habit of doing something every day, it tends to lead to doing more.

Having lots of convenient options on hand. I mentioned in a comment recently that it's been incredibly useful to have a lot of 20-minute yoga podcasts on my laptop -- I don't have to go anywhere or stick to a schedule, I just need to plonk my laptop on the floor and do one on the spur of the moment because I've got twenty minutes free. I also have enough bits of equipment at home that I can do a strength workout without leaving the house. So, yeah. It's good to have fallback options for an exercise routine that's very quick, or that's gentle, or that doesn't require me to leave the house, or that I can do before bed, etc. etc.. It also means I don't have very many excuses that work. *g*

Not sticking too rigidly to plans. Maybe I've planned that today I'll go to the gym and lift heavy metal things, and I wake up feeling run-down and unmotivated and my back's aching. I've found it usually doesn't help to push myself too hard; I'll give myself permission to do something more low-key instead.

Finding stuff I like doing. If I'm not interested and engaged by a physical activity, it doesn't happen.

[semielliptical]

once you get into the habit of doing something every day, it tends to lead to doing more.

Very true!

I also love yoga podcasts. I often prefer not to have to think about constructing a practice, other than to make adjustments when needed.

[alphaviolet]

I think I posted here a while ago that what makes me stick to my goals here is hedonism. Well, not exactly. But I pick exercises I like doing, I look forward to them, and then I do them.

Initially, I signed up for a fitness challenge at the gym to build the habit of exercising and learn more about how my body worked. (I found that I needed to exercise for over 45 minutes at a time to get the results I wanted.) But then, it was important for me to get out of the fitness club environment, because the approach behind that - distracting oneself with TV, getting on the scale too often, and doing exercises that depended on machines - was decreasing my motivation. (I use exercise for meditation and stress reduction.) So now I do a lot of dancing and outdoor exercises and don't spend any time with treadmills, etc.. That is what works for me. YMMV. If I loved using a treadmill and looked forward to it, I would, of course.

After a year or so, I reached my first goal, so now I am working on building functional strength/ability.

[semielliptical]

I pick exercises I like doing, I look forward to them, and then I do them.

That's a very sensible approach. I can be pretty lazy, and I've noticed that if I'm not practicing a physical activity regularly, I can forget how enjoyable it can be. Another reason to exercise frequently!

[alphaviolet]

Me too - when I do it, I remember it. The exercise itself can be the motivation. It is good for me, but I look forward to it too... like how some people feel about going to a spa or to get their hair done.