If your only motivation for exercise is to lose weight you just may be disappointed. Do not get me wrong - I am a strong believer in exercise. A person will lose weight through exercise. However, most people that wish to lose weight want to lose it right now. I had a young lady ask for help in getting in shape for a beauty contest. Then she informed me it was 2 weeks away. I had a sedentary couple that wanted to get in shape for snow skiing. Their trip was one month away. Others have reunions or cruises that serve as temporary motivation that will be forgotten after the "event". I was at a party this past spring. Conversations often turn to weight loss when someone learns that I am a personal trainer. One person in this conversation explained that they too had tried exercise, but gave up because it didn't make any difference. There are many reasons to make exercise a lifetime habit. Losing weight is just one benefit. A slow but steady benefit.
Exercise will improve our quality of life; better sleep, improved mood, improved brain function, strong immune system, increased energy level, and improved sex life.
Exercise has physiological benefits: improves the heart muscle, decreases "bad LDL" cholesterol while increasing "good HDL" cholesterol, can lower blood pressure, reduces stress, promotes bone health/strength, maintain and/or increase lean muscle tissue, improves glucose tolerance, and reduces body fat.
The good news is that these benefits can be achieved with just a minimum of 30 minutes a day, most days of the week. The "exercise" can be whatever a person enjoys. Even gardening has benefits. Brisk walking, stationary bicycling, toning exercises, dancing, yoga - the list is endless. Choose something you will continue to do regularly. Focus on the enjoyment of the activity and time for yourself.
There are opportunities throughout our day to go beyond the minimum of 30 minutes. Park the car away from your destination so that you can walk farther. Walk to lunch or work or to visit friends. Climb stairs up - go back down - then up again. Take walking breaks instead of sitting in the break room. Be creative in your quest for more activity.
Every one has different exercise goals. Stick to yours. Do not compare yourself to someone that has "competitive" goals. Find someone that has similar goals as yourself and plan to exercise together.
The most important thing is to realize that this is a lifestyle that has a beginning with no "end". Regular exercise prepares us for the demands of daily living. A person that has a regular exercise routine finds that their body is also more prepared for activities such as hiking, skiing, climbing, etc.
I would like to encourage you to participate in an exercise program for the sheer enjoyment of activity and play. Surround yourself with other people that enjoy an active lifestyle. Take advantage of all the benefits exercise can bring to your life. Regular exercise assists us when making choices in other areas of our lives. I know a smoker that chose to quit smoking in order to continue running. Many of my clients make healthier food choices because they exercise regularly. We become healthy when we act healthy.
What's that saying? - It's the "journey", not the "destination".
Beth
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