Exercise: How to Stay Motivated
Some ways to combat motivation deficit:
l Change your exercise routine every four to six weeks by trying a new activity or changing your intensity or time.
l Write down your goals and review them daily.
l Use photos as a visual aid, i.e., a picture of yourself at your ideal weight pasted on the refrigerator door.
l Schedule exercise as you would a business meeting, a doctor’s appointment or other non-negotiable activity.
l If you can’t get in your full exercise time, break it up into 10-minute increments. March in place while watching TV. Run up and down your stairs 20 times. Take the dog for a short walk.
l Wear a pedometer. Challenge yourself to get in a certain amount of steps per day (experts say 10,000 per day is the average of fit people).
l Find an accountability buddy or group. On the days your motivation lags, your friend(s) can be your cheering section. When they’re feeling lazy, you can talk them into working out.