Snagged this blog from my buddy Adrian's site: Life.Health.Wellness. This is pretty good, worth a read if you are on the fence about exercising, this may help give you that extra push.... enjoy!
If you’re
trying to lose weight or stick to a consistent exercise program, what you may
notice is how many things stand in the way of your goals. How are you supposed
to exercise when you have to meet with a client, run the kids to the dentist,
cut the grass, go to church, watch your favorite TV show and take out the trash? What you may
not realize is that fitting in exercise is a matter of how you think and not
what’s on your schedule. Thinking like an exerciser can increase your odds of
success and put you in the right frame of mind for making the choice to
exercise.
1.
Look for opportunities, not excuses.
While a non-exerciser may look at situations like traveling or working late as
reasons to skip their workouts, exercisers actually seek out ways to exercise,
even if it seems impossible.
Imagine a non-exerciser and an exerciser on a
business trip:
The Non-Exerciser packs their workout clothes, thinking,
"Maybe if I get a break, I’ll squeeze in a workout." My husband, a
frequent flyer, says what that translates to is, "I’m bringing my workout
clothes so I’ll feel good about myself, but I’ll never actually wear
them."
The Exerciser packs their workout clothes, thinking, "I
have meetings all day, so I’ll get up extra early and get in a short workout
beforehand." There’s no ‘maybe’ about it, even if it means working out at
a time that isn’t comfortable.
What the exerciser knows is that they have to
commit to their workouts, even if their schedule works against them. The
exerciser is willing to make the effort, even if it means a workout session
that isn’t ideal.
How to Think Like an Exerciser:
•
Act as if
exercise is a priority. Is exercise an
afterthought? Something you only do when everything goes as planned? If so,
practice putting it at the top of your to-do list. How would you plan your day
if you knew you had to work everything else around your workouts? Just changing
how you think about exercise can change whether actually do it.
Act as if
everything counts. New or non-exercisers often think they have to do a certain
type of workout (e.g., lung-busting workouts that last for three hours) for it
to ‘count.’ Exercisers count everything, whether it’s a few jumping jacks or
pushups in a hotel room or taking a brisk walk during a lunch break.
•
Plan ahead.
Rather than waiting for the perfect time to exercise, work with the schedule
you already have. Even if you can only find 10 minutes, you’ll burn calories
and improve your health much more than if you didn’t move at all.
2. View exercise as a necessity rather than an indulgence.
Another difference between how exercisers and non-exercisers think is how they
perceive exercise. A non-exerciser may see it as a chore, something that takes
away from the rest of her day. An exerciser, on the other hands, looks at her
workouts as a necessity – something she needs to make her day better.
Imagine
an exerciser and a non-exerciser facing an unexpected visit from a
mother-in-law:
The Non-Exerciser panics and thinks, "There’s no way I can
exercise if she’s coming. How will I have the time to iron the sheets, drink a
bottle of wine and scrub the floors with a toothbrush?"
The Exerciser panics
and thinks, "I will never get my guilt-deflectors working if I don’t
exercise. I better squeeze in a quick run and, if the house isn’t clean enough,
I’ll just start a small fire to distract her."
How to Think Like an Exerciser
•
Think of
exercise as your energy source. Believe it or
not, taking time out to exercise can actually give you more energy and focus
for your day.
•
Take
advantage of your workout time. When you have
a busy day or an unexpected visitor, your workout time may be the only quiet
time you get. Taking a walk or run will give your mind, and stress levels, a
break and you’ll be better prepared for what’s to come.
•
Learn how to
motivate yourself. Exercisers find motivation rather than
waiting for it to happen. If you've got a lot to do, use that as an impetus to
get moving. The stronger you are and the more endurance you have, the more you
can get done.
3. Find ways to move all day long.
Non-exercisers and exercisers alike tend to spend a lot of time sitting each
day, but many exercisers find ways to be active above and beyond their regular
exercise routines. Whether it's taking more walks, parking at the end of the
parking lot or taking the stairs at work, exercisers know that any movement can
generate more energy and momentum.
Imagine an exerciser and a non-exerciser
facing a flight delay:
The Non-Exerciser stays
at the gate, thinking, "I better save my strength to fight the other
passengers for overhead bin space. I already have my eye on that woman and her
giant suitcase."
The Exerciser grabs
their bag and starts walking, thinking, "I'm going to be on that plane for
at least two hours and probably squished in the middle seat between two
linebackers. Better get a walk in while I can."
How to Think Like an Exerciser
•
Stand up.
Sitting can actually shut down your metabolism. Stand up whenever you can –
while on the phone, watching TV, opening your mail or taking a break from work.
•
Invent
reasons to move. Leave something in your car and take the
stairs to get it. Make a rule that you have to walk around the parking lot at
work three times before you can go in. Sit on an exercise ball when you're at
the computer or watching TV. Eventually, these movements become habits and,
before you know it, you're moving more than you're sitting.
•
Wear a
pedometer. Pedometers can actually increase
activity, motivating you to walk more just to see how many steps you can take.
4. Look at Exercise as a tool for getting what you want.
Exercisers know that working out isn't just for weight loss, but a tool they
can use to find balance, more time for the things they enjoy and a way to keep
up with life with fewer injuries, illnesses and other things that keep them
from functioning at their best.
Imagine an exerciser and a non-exerciser with
a tight, aching back after a long day at work:
The Non-Exerciser is
exhausted and decides to skip their planned workout, thinking, "My back
hurts, so I probably shouldn't exercise. I'll just go home and put my feet up,
which will allow my husband to attend to my needs more easily."
The Exerciser is
exhausted, but decides to go through with his workout, thinking, "My back
hurts from sitting for too many hours and my butt is starting to look a lot
like my office chair. A workout will loosen things up and keep me from
completely falling apart."
How to Think Like an Exerciser
•
View exercise
as a timesaver. While
you may see exercise as something that takes away from your time, it can
actually save you time in the long run. A little exercise every day can help
manage aches and pain, fatigue and offer protection from more serious illnesses
like diabetes and cancer. If your schedule is overloaded, wouldn't you rather
spend a little time each day exercising rather than hours in a doctor's waiting
room, a hospital or in line for a prescription you might be able to avoid?
•
View exercise
as a sanity-saver. Exercise is one of the few activities
you can do that can increase your confidence, boost your mood and make you feel
good about yourself all at the same time. It can also help manage symptoms of
depression and anxiety. If you have trouble getting started, think about how
you'll feel at the end of your workout.
•
View exercise
as a body-saver. If you have an aching back or tight
shoulder muscles, you may mistakenly think you need more rest, when what your
body craves is movement. In fact, exercise is a great way to manage and prevent
back pain along with the other aches and pains that happen when we sit for
hours at a time.
Shifting your thinking from a non-exerciser's point of view to an exerciser's point of view isn't easy. It requires looking at your daily tasks and choices with a different attitude and an eye toward your overall goals in life -- feeling good, having more energy and getting satisfaction out of your accomplishments. Fitting in exercise isn't just a function of weight loss, but a way to improve your overall quality of life. Changing how you think may be your first step in changing how live for the better.
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