Few of us really want to spend our time plodding along on a treadmill. So why do we do it? Those who stick with their exercise habit, long-term, do so because it improves their mood, makes them feel healthier, happier and are less stressed.
A recent study found that the best fitness motivation for mid-life women was ” to improve their state of well-being” or improved mood and stress reduction. “So you get the instant payoff of your workout improving your day and the long-term benefits that make you want to keep doing it,” says Michelle Segar,PhD.
Very few reasons are compelling enough to keep us exercising over the long haul. We need to find our motivators and reasons to continue working out.
For me, I have made a list of the top reasons I exercise. I highly recommend it. My #1 reason is I feel great after a workout. I use that to motivate me, remembering how good I felt motivates me to “just do it.” The fear of having agonizing back pain again has inspired me to develop my core.
Exercise because...
1. You always feel great after a good workout. I really like the adrenaline rush.
2. To be healthy and happy.
3. Avoid debilitating back pain.
4. Playing in the back yard is FUN.
5. Stress relief. A good sweat melts away my stress.
6. It gets you outside and feeling alive.
7. Me time. No cell phones, no chores. It’s an appointment to take care of myself. And I get to some hear some great music.
8. Exercise lowers your risk of a major illness.
9. It sets a good example for my children.
10. Your brain is sharper and memory improved.
11. My workout partner motivates me. I love working out with my wife.
12. You feel better and look better.
Make you own list, I think it will inspire you to keep moving.
Tips to stay motivated
Train for a local 5K or 10K walk or run in your area. This is great reason to exercise.
Sign up for a class, perhaps with a friend, and you’ll be motivated to get there and work out.
Running with my son while he rides his bike makes the time fly by. We get a chance for some quiet, one on one time.
Reading health and fitness magazines motivates me. I like to hear whats new in fitness and pick up some good ideas.
Buy exercise clothes that you like. I am usually a slob, but for some reason if I put on that NIKE shirt, I feel… I need to earn the right to wear such nice gear.
Keep a journal to track your progress.
Get a workout buddy. You will inspire and motivate each other.
I find the success stories of others inspirational. I admit it, I watch “The Biggest Loser.” When I see the contestants running marathons I tell myself; If they can push themselves that far I can do another mile.
Don’t Think “All or Nothing”
If you don’t have time to do an entire workout, don’t take the “all or nothing” approach. If you’re really short on time, go for a quick run or get in 20 minutes of strength-training. You’ll still get some benefits and you’ll feel better mentally for not skipping a workout entirely.
Keep it fun / Find Workouts That Don’t Feel Like Work
When we were children we didn’t workout. We played and the time flew by. As adults we need to remember how to play again. Is it football with friends, tennis, dancing? Reconnect with what makes you happy and you will find the key to staying fit. What do you like to play?
Facts to help you stay inspired
Exercise is the #1 treatment for chronic back pain. Most people are looking for medicines or shots to magically take their pain away. The smart ones listen to their doctor or chiropractor and move their butt.
EXERCISE IS LIKE THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH FOR THE BRAIN
On a recent PBS show on the brain featuring, neurosurgeon Daniel Amen MD, stated that exercising (boosting blood flow) is indeed “like a fountain of youth for the brain.”
A 2008 Runners’ Health study in the journal of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that exercise lowered the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration; the greater the dose, the lower the risk. Other studies found that exercise-again, the more the better-reduced the risk of gout, gall stones, diverticulitis (a potentially fatal digestive disease) and prostate enlargement.
More Benefits
Increased energy, increased mental focus, increased self-esteem, increased sense of control over your life, reduced chances of heart attack, osteoporosis, breast cancer, increased strength and stamina, reduction of stress to name a few.
Men who regularly engage in moderate-to-heavy intensity exercise such as jogging, tennis or swimming may be less likely to have a stroke than people who get no exercise or only light exercise, reports a recent study. The study’s more active men were 63 percent less likely to have a stroke than those who did lighter activities like walking and golfing. Strokes, by the way, are the leading cause of disability and the third-leading cause of death in the United States.
There are a million reasons to stick with your plan to exercise. The key is finding the thing that motivates you.
