Make a Resolution to Exercise

According to the Mayo Clinic there are seven main benefits to regular exercise. They include: Strengthening your cardiovascular and respiratory systems, keeping bones and muscles strong, managing your weight, preventing or managing diabetes, easing depression and manage pain and stress, reducing your risk of certain kinds of cancer, and better sleep.

Despite these proven health benefits, about 70% of Americans do not exercise regularly. There are many excuses; most of them pretty good, for why we don’t exercise. We don’t have enough time. Maybe our small children are keeping us from a proper exercise routine. Possibly the cost of a gym membership or other kinds of exercise equipment is cost prohibitive for you.

Everyone should be able to fit exercise into his or her schedule. At first, fitting an exercise routine into your schedule may seem like a sacrifice of time, but the benefits will be so amazing, you may soon be wondering how you got through a day with out an exercise routine. Here are a few tips for creating a successful exercise routine.

What will you do?
What do you enjoy doing? OK, sitting in front of the TV doesn’t count! Maybe physical activity is not your strong suit. Instead think of what you CAN do. Can you walk, swim, jog, or do aerobics? Decide what kind of activity you would enjoy and you will be much more likely to stick with it as part of your exercise routine.

How will you do it?
Schedule your exercise, just like you would schedule an appointment. Find a time in the day where your chosen activity will fit, write it down and keep your appointment. Will you exercise with a friend or do it alone? People who exercise with a friend are more likely to stick with their routine. Set small goals and modify them over time. This will allow you to experience success and will be a motivation to keep exercising.