4 Stages to Making Exercise a Permanent Part of Your Life

It’s not even debatable. The values of regular exercise have been proven over and over again. You need to develop an exercise program that is right for you and one you will stick to. Follow these guidelines for a lifetime of fitness . . .

• Stage 1
  Two Weeks for Making a Winning Game Plan – Building an exercise program you can live with by choosing an exercise program and fitting it into your normal schedule.
• Stage 2Three Weeks for Getting a Good Start – Easing into your exercise program and avoiding problems.
• Stage 3Nine Weeks for Building an Exercise Habit – Learning how to extend your start into an exercise habit and how to handle successfully any minor problems that might occur.
• Stage 4A Lifetime of Exercise – Developing ways to keep your exercise program going for a lifetime of feeling and looking your best.

Stage 1

You get the benefits of exercise only if you do it regularly. The easiest way to exercise regularly is to make sure that it is convenient and an expected part of your week’s routine. You eat; you go to work; you exercise; you watch t.v.; you sleep. You probably do all the others so now all you need to do is slip in the exercising.

You need to incorporate both aerobic exercise and strength training to have a well rounded routine. Pick something you enjoy and will continue to do.

Don’t like to run? Walk briskly.

Don’t want to lift weights? Do pushups.

Stage 2

Gradually ease into your program. Walk slowly and enjoy the scenery. Do your push-ups or wall squats.

Find a friend so you can motivate each other.

It is very important you do this regularly for the next 3 weeks. It must become a routine!

Continue. Step it up some. Learn to work around interruptions. You miss a day because you worked late? Exercise the next day.

These 9 weeks are probably going to determine if this becomes a regular habit. If you make it through these first 3 months, you will probably continue. You’ve broken this down into a couple stages. Now . . . the last final stage.

Stage 4

Start modifying your program. Vary your exercise so you keep it fresh and exciting.

Do some aerobic dancing once or twice a week to replace your walk or run.

Maybe do some dumbbell exercises to further increase your strength.

Give yourself a reward every so often. Buy a new outfit every time you complete 3 successive months of exercise.

Congratulate yourself. If you made it through your 3 month training, you are in the healthy minority. Keep it up and try to get some of your friends and relatives to exercise. Everywhere I’ve worked, at least someone has quit smoking and/or started exercising because it kind of rubs off on others.

That’s one more reason to feel good about it.