A Piece of Peace

With each New Year comes the drive to start exercising. Maybe you made a promise to add more exercise into your day. Take a look at these suggestions if your attempts at exercising aren't going in addition to you'd intended. They might help get you back on course and start seeing new and better results.

Hint #1 Do Something You Love

Working out and getting great exercise doesn’t need to mean spending hours at the gym peddling away on a stationary bike. It doesn’t mean you have to spend money on exercise gadgets you will likely never use, either. Anything you do to get the body going is going to be better than doing nothing. Walking is an easy exercise that you can do just about everywhere, in any climate. Bike riding, dancing, gardening, weight lifting, swimming, playing house cleaning, a favorite sport and even playing in the lawn with your kids are only some of the ways you are able to add exercise.

Hint #2 Schedule Time for Exercise

A doctor appointment or as you'd a meeting, occasionally the only way to make time to exercise would be to put it on your daily program. We’ve all got busy lives and we’re generally so busy taking care of others that we never seem to make time. Once exercise becomes part of your daily To-Do list, you likely to take action. Many people have only a particular time during the day accessible for exercise although some will need to vary enough time daily. A nudge is needed by some people and for them, exercising with a buddy is a superb option. Pick whichever way works best for you. Remember to actually go and take action!

Hint #3 Remember that Exercise Can Energize

Give it a try anyway despite the fact that you might feel overly tired to exercise. You might be surprised to discover you feel while you ’re at it and after, when you’re concluded. Exercise is a fantastic stress-reliever too and knowing anything about anxiety, you realize that it's among the body’s biggest energy-sappers.

Suggestion #4 Don’t be Afraid to Mix it up

Like anything that is certainly done over and over again, exercise can become routine. When you get bored with exercising, you’re more unlikely to keep at it. To keep from becoming bored with your workout routine, change it. Try cycling if you’re tired of walking. Try alternating this with cardiovascular exercises through the week if you’re into weight lifting. Go bowling or play with a game of tennis once every so often, and join up with a team if you discover you love these kinds of activities.

Suggestion #5 Always Begin by Warming up

Regardless of the type of exercise you select, it's very important that you start each session by warming up your muscles. Stretching helps prevent damage to muscle tissue and it gets your blood flowing. It gets your heart pumping, too. Merely five minutes is all it takes to get your exercise session off to a good start. 

Hint #6 Track Your Progress

Seeing improvements takes patience and time, and you'll want to track your progress as you see results. One simple way is to log your exercise routine daily, along with statistics around whatever goals you are trying to achieve. For example, if losing weight is your goal, then record your weight every day in a logbook. Don't worry, you'll get there! Be sure to log which exercises you do each day as well.

If you're looking for something more high-tech, there are plenty of apps out there, both for your desktop and your mobile device. I like to print out screenshots on my Mac of my weekly progress and post it up on my fridge. It's something I see every day and it makes me feel good about my progress. It also serves as a gently deterrent when I'm in a hungry and snacking mood.