Making Room for Exercise: Find What Motivates You

Life seems to get tougher and tougher while it becomes more and more fast-paced each day. You’re busy and that means you’re exerting effort. But is this truly a valid excuse to stay off the treadmill? Is busyness equal to not needing any exercise anymore?

Experts disagree. Researchers from Brown University discovered that people who walked an average of one hour a day had more chances of losing weight than others. The director of University of Pittsburgh’s Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center John Jakicic also said that people who could keep and steadily increase their respective weight loss programs can look forward to retaining their average weight loss rate. Lastly, there’s University of South Carolina’s exercise science professor Russell Pate who says that people who diet and exercise have more chances of enjoying long-term weight loss rather than those who diet only.

Of course, committing to a regular workout is easier said than done. Nevertheless, regular exercise is necessary, and there are several ways that you can ensure you’re not too busy for some exercises whether for weight loss purposes or for any other health requirements.

Firstly, do what you love to do. If you’re into dancing, make that as your daily exercise. The same goes for any physically vigorous sport, hobby, or activity. Try it with friends and family or with your spouse. When exercise becomes fun, it becomes easier for you to fit it in your hectic schedule. There’s no better motivation to exercise than to love the kind of exercise you’re doing.

If that doesn’t work, do what’s convenient, practical, or useful. You can walk to and fro school or home. Although walking’s reportedly not good enough exercise for anyone, it can get you started. You can also consider climbing up and down several flights of stairs each day or giving your house a daily thorough cleaning (not necessarily fun but it’s VERY practical). When exercise becomes a multi-purpose activity, you also find it easier to include in your daily routine since you know you’re killing two or three birds with one stone.

There’s no excuse to keeping control of your weight. There’s no excuse to keeping yourself healthy. There’s no excuse to get some exercise.

Got any other ways to motivate someone who hates exercise?

[image from stubailey]

Tags: exercise motivation, fun exercise