Making It Last
In some ways, exercise is like a diet. A lot of people start, but very few keep it up. In today's world, most people have to make time to be active. Unless being active is a high personal priority, we tend to be less active over time. Answering the following questions may give you insight to your own willingness to make your exercise program last.
- Would you like to be more active?
- How important is it to you?
- How will being more active pay off for you?
- Do you have a plan to get started?
- How sure are you that you can do it?
If your answers tell you that you're not ready to begin your exercise program, you may want to talk to someone about it to figure out why. Or, give it some more thought. Try to think of what might be standing in your way.
How to keep going:
- Make walking or your other exercise activities a part of your daily routine.
- Finding someone to walk or exercise with can help make your workout more enjoyable. When exercise is enjoyable and social, it is its own reward. This may help you stay motivated.
- Keep a record of what you do. For example, write the step total from a pedometer on your blood sugar (glucose) record every night.
- Keep your main goal in mind. Maybe you are exercising to feel better, lower your blood sugar, or lose weight. Whatever it is, keep track of how you are doing.
- Know that everyone's exercise plans lapse occasionally. Instead of being discouraged, use this time as an opportunity to review your goals. Try to recommit as soon as possible to an enjoyable and healthy level of activity.
