Exercise.
You had to have known I was going to bring this word up eventually, right? There’s no need for dread. I promise.
Just do it.
Just start.
Don’t wait for the motivation to appear before you begin. Get started with an exercise routine and those happy endorphins will start pumping through your veins and then the motivation will be there.
Here are some keys to making an exercise routine work:
(1) Find something you enjoy.
There are so many options out there to choose from.
Zumba
Turbo Kick
Water Aerobics
Swimming
Cycling
Running
Workout DVDs
Boot Camp
Step Aerobics
Find something and give it a try. If you absolutely hate it, move on to something else. Just recently, I tried out a Zumba class. I left after the first five minutes. I know so many people who love it, but it just wasn’t for me. That’s okay. I gave it a try.
Side note: Later on in this series, we’ll spend a lot of time talking about running.
(2) Change it up when you start to feel bored.
If you let boredom set in, you’re opening the door to the nasty person who lives in your head and always tries to convince you to quit. You don’t want to let her get her foot in the door. Be proactive. Run a different route, visit a new workout class at the gym or check out some new workout DVDs from the library.
(3) Take a rest day and don’t feel guilty about it.
There is no need to burn yourself out by working out everyday of the week. Take a day off. Your body needs time to recover. It’s actually very important. You don’t want to push yourself so hard you end up with some kind of injury and then you can’t exercise at all.
(4) Include both cardio and strength training in your exercise routine.
Muscle burns more calories than fat, even when you are sitting down at your computer shopping on-line or blogging. What’s not to love about that?!
Also, as a runner, I’ve noticed a huge difference in how much stronger I feel since I started integrating strength training into my routine.
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If you already have an exercise routine in place, share what it is in the comment section. I would love to hear about it!
My workout routine is prettier basic…I alternate between the elliptical and running every other day…always with at least 20 mins of strength training. And taking sundays off. It works for me! Wanting to add some classes in there too!
On a good week I run three days but don’t have any strength training routine in place. Any suggestions? My massage therapists says I need to add stretching in. I thought exercising was enough, but now my leg muscles are way to tight.
You definitely need to be stretching with all of the running you do. I would also recommend using a foam roller. I roll after I run. It really helps work out any knots.
As far as strength training, before I started taking classes at the gym, I did the Body for Life weight lifting routine. You could try googling it and see what comes up. It’s very basic. You would just need a few different weights of hand weights.
Water areobics every weekday morning for 1 hour and 15 mins. I take a masters swim class two nights a week where she (kills us) helps us improve our strokes and we swim 1,200 yards in an hour. I was walking and biking alternating evenings, but now its COLD (snowing! ARGH) here. So, I am back to Zumba twice a week and biking indoors 20-30 miles a week. Still am only down 10 lbs but have lost 30 inches and in a size down in clothes. YEAH! Plus I feel better. Sad thing is I only have time to exercise, eat, sleep, homeschool (grade papers) and photo edit my recent sessions, so the rest of my life is lacking in other areas.
Wow! That is an impressive routine you have going. I wish I could get into swimming like that.
I am currently training for the St Jude Memphis half (for the second year). I run 3 or 4 times a week and do p90x videos on a couple of my off days (core, yoga, or ab ripper x). Your running posts have really motivated me! I’m a gym member but have a severely separation anxious toddler, so that ain’t happinin’ right now…
My daughter and I are running the St. Jude’s 1/2, too!