Be ready to Fall in Love with your Exercise Routines

Group Workouts Encourage People to Pump in More Effort

Our heart, mind and the entire body benefits from regular exercise – we become fitter, look chic and reduce our chances of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. But do each of us really allocate time for this activity? Most of us are thoroughly busy in organizing or attending to the needs of another human being in our life and we are ready with our set of excuses such as “I’m busy,” “I’m tired” or “It’s too sunny outside.” Moreover, with kids around, it becomes an almost impossible task to engage in regular physical activity. But if you look at the root cause of all these excuses and problems, there is one simple answer: lack of motivation. Parents are emotionally and physically drained out by the end of day and are least motivated to do some exercise.

It is actually difficult to push yourself to do something that you dislike and easy to keep it out of your life. But, exercise is not an option but a priority in life. Having a positive attitude, thinking of the benefits and setting your mind to exercise can help you start liking this activity, or at least, decrease your aversion towards it. Here are few tips to get you motivated to start exercising:

1. Make it a habit: Include exercise in your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. We never bring excuses or hesitate to do our daily chores. Once you start exercising, in a few months, it will become a part of your daily activity and you won’t even think of skipping it.
2. Choose an exercise that pleases you: There is no hard and fast rule that exercise should either be walking, jogging or hitting the gym. Plan an exercise that suits you. If you love being around with friends, go for a group exercise, a game of squash or join the basketball team. If you love spending time in solitude, take a refreshing walk or jog at your local park or workout at the gym as per your convenient time. Once you settle down with your convenient exercise routine, nothing can stop you from reaching your fitness goals.
3. Set realistic goals: Never expect to cover a 10-kilometer distance on the first day of your walk or run on the treadmill on your first workout at the gym and lose 3 kilograms in a week. Start with a 15 to 30-minute workout session at least 3 days a week. Increase your intensity and duration gradually.
4. It’s OK to split workout sessions instead of skipping them completely: Dietitians/nutritionists at www.firsteatright.com recommend doing at least 150 minutes of exercise a week (30 minutes every day on at least 5 days a week). On rainy days or on days when you are unable to go out for workout, keep an extra set of weights in your home. Also, if you are unable to exercise for 30 minutes at a stretch, try to split them into three 10-minute sessions. You can take a small walk post-lunch at office, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator or get down at the previous stop and walk down to work.
5. Missing out on a day’s work out is not a sin: Don’t feel guilty and stress yourself out if you miss a workout or indulge in a cup of hot jamuns at your friend’s birthday bash. It happens to every one of us at some point and these struggles are inevitable. The goal should be to get back on track the very next day, leaving your guilt far behind.
   
   

 If only exercise was a pill, it would be the most-used and cost-effective drug till date. But, it feels really good after a workout realizing that you have done something for yourself and for your lovely body. Believe in yourself and start exercising today to reap the benefits tomorrow.