How to Get Your Fitness Goals in Gear

Starting a new commitment is never easy. Let's face it-it means change in your everyday routine, whatever it is. It's difficult to get over the initial hump of making room for it. You are already so used to not doing it each week that merely doing it is asking a lot. Fitness may be the best example of this scenario. It's not easy for anyone. So if you are lugging around good intentions and well thought out plans for adding exercise to your weekly life but can't seem to get them into gear, don't think you're unique. Don't think you have some special condition about your motivation or your life that makes it harder for you than it is for those people who are actually following through with their fitness goals. You are just letting the hump hold you up. And while it's an extremely common problem, it's also very easily surmounted with a little dedication. Oops. Did I say a bad word? No! DEDICATION is a good word. It gives way to great things like integrity, and confidence, and feeling really good about yourself. So don't let that little requirement, dedication, scare you off. It's a self-makeover in disguise.

The first thing you need to do when desiring to add fitness to your life is pick an activity. It really doesn't matter what it is, so long as it is active. You know what you are interested in and what your body is capable of. Always consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your physical abilities. Also, know that it is ideal to do both a cardio workout and a strength training workout, like bike riding and yoga, each week. But in the beginning you want to reserve all of your motivation for simply getting started, so pick the one thing you would enjoy doing for the rest of your physically active life. Something that, when you imagine yourself doing it routinely, makes you feel great about yourself. If you have done different activities or exercise programs before, let it really pay off, because you already know what you really enjoy. I absolutely love walking. I know I hate running, and bike riding. I hate aerobics. I love yoga and Pilates. The things I love to do, I know I can do for life. I may not look forward to doing them every day, but I know I will enjoy them when I do them. I'm passionate about them. If you're really social and like to get involved in new groups of people, you would probably enjoy working out at a gym, which is like a club where everyone exercises while they hang out. Or take a karate or dance class. Pick what you want to do based on what you know you like, or what feels like a good fit for your personality and lifestyle and interests.

Once you've picked your activity, decide how often a week you want to do it. At least three times is the rule. Then pick where those workout times are going to fit into your schedule. You have to make room for them. Will it be thirty minutes on a lunch break? Will it be in the evening after work? In the morning before classes? While the kids take a nap? While Dad is giving them all their baths? Whatever works well for you is when you should do it. Fitness is fairly flexible. So long as the gym is open or it isn't too dark and dangerous at the park for a jog, etc., you can go when it feels good to you to go.

Okay, here's the real clincher. Once you've got it planned, start it and keep it up consistently for two weeks. Short of a seriously necessary interruption, don't let anything stop you from doing it that can be avoided. Follow through with your plan for two weeks. After two weeks you will be in significantly better shape than when you started. You will have gotten used to the physical load. You will have gotten over being sore after every time you do it. You will have gotten used to the new weekly routine. You will have gotten used to having this activity in your life. If you make it to your two-week goal, doing it will have gotten significantly easier. And insisting that you do it when you don't want to will be easier to, because you've been practicing it for two weeks. If you do this, you are much more likely to continue the activity for life. And once you see what a difference the two-week commitment makes for you, it will be easier to get your fitness life going again if you ever get off track. Just tell yourself, "Remember last time? In just two weeks it was much easier. Come on, self-I can force you to do it for two weeks and then it will be easier to stick with it after that."

In another two weeks, you can add more if you are interested. Add a strength-training workout or a cardio workout to compliment what you're already doing. Maybe lengthen the amount of time you work out or add another day or two a week. Focus on this as something that you need in order to take good care of yourself. Just like you do other things necessary for your health, like eat and drink and brush your teeth and sleep. I know, some people don't do that stuff well, either. Enjoy your life and take care of it. A big part of the meaning of life is having fun and feeling good, and health and fitness are a big key to succeeding in that. Happy exercising!