Exercising EVERY day
Nov. 25th, 2010 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
semielliptical posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
exercise_every_dayI'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?
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?
