The main issue of starting any type of exercise program is staying motivated. The problem is not staying motivated, but understanding why you would quit an exercise program, such as walking, without giving it a second thought. You start and then all of us sudden you quit.
Throughout my studies of people’s attitude toward exercise it can be concluded that some people think exercise is punishment for their past behaviors. These people are often overweight and/or have many health problems because of their inactivity throughout their years of living. Their strength and endurance are very weak and getting up, standing up and walking (or other choices of exercise) hurts their body as they try to get active and actually do think it is a punishment so they quit. Let’s look at a logical explanation about why we do certain habits daily.
IF WE DON’T:
Brush our teeth – our teeth will become decayed & fall out
Shampoo our hair – our hair will harness infections & live worms
Take a shower – our body will produce odors & skin diseases
Cut our toe/ fingernails – they will grow extremely long
Eat meals – we will starve to death
Drink Water/fluids – we will get dehydrated
Wear shoes – we can injure our feet
Exercise – we could die an early death or live a long, suffering life
It has been proven so many times people have to move their bodies to have a healthy lifestyle. Being physically active can improve many of the health problems we, and our children, are facing. Isn’t it time to stop looking at it as a dreaded exercise and look at it as a habit that you will do everyday so you won’t “die an early death or live a long, suffering life”
The question comes back to haunt us “why do we choose to quit” and become unmotivated? It is a mindset; when you run out of steam and sit in your office or on your favorite chair instead of walking for your health, you must adjust your mindset. A client once told me the hardest thing for her was walking out her front door. Once outside she had to think of positive reasons why she was walking; such as: “I walked yesterday so I can walk today”; “I’m going to look and feel so much better”; “This walk is part of my daily habits”; “I am a Healthy Walker”.
Would you be surprised if I reported to you that people who completed their workout is less fatigued and had less discomfort than people who weren’t as confident in their reasoning and this determines the difference between quitting and preserving? Some exercise coaches create your goals for you and tell you “walk 30 minutes every day” which is fine; however, it is misleading and could look like an impossible goal for the beginner walker so they quit. The method that seems acceptable to my beginning clients is: “Look outside your front door and you tell me how far you think you can walk today?” They have created their goal and will make a commitment to walk that distance. A coach’s role is not to let them get stuck, but encourage them to go a little farther each day and that is when it becomes a daily habit. Teaching clients to make a commitment to their new daily walking program will assist them in not giving up and creates their own motivation.
