and don't forget to download your FREE weight loss success plan athttp://www.dietingstop.com/blog

 

Exercise is not absolutely essential for losing weight but if you want to be able to eat enough to feel like you've had a reasonable amount of food then you will have to get your body moving a bit more.

And in any case every calorie helps (provided, that is, you don't reward yourself with chocolate or French fries because you went to the gym or had a long walk and end up consuming more calories than you used up).

But how do you motivate yourself for exercise when you just want to curl up on the sofa with a good book or the latest soap episode and a large snack?

1. Think Positive

Rather than looking at exercise as something that will bring about a whole lot of work and effort or even discomfort and pain, think about the benefits it will bring - getting in shape, losing weight, more energy, stronger firmer muscles, better sleep, better health etc etc

2. Get the Benefits

You only have to exercise for a few sessions to start feeling the benefits so make a pact with yourself to exercise until you notice them - it definitely gets easier after that

3. Start Small

Don't bite off more than you can chew - start from where you are and gradually increase your time or distance or effort. Push yourself just a tiny bit each day beyond where you are and your fitness will improve enormously.

And if you can't face a huge exercise session tell yourself you'll just do 5 minutes - and when 5 minutes are up decide whether to stop or go on - quite often you will find that you will want to continue.

4. Just Get Ready

If you don't feel like exercising, challenge yourself just to put on your exercise gear.  Tell yourself if you don't feel like exercising once you've done that, you don't have to. But once you're ready for exercise it feels silly not to take the next step and actually do it. You can take this further and challenge yourself just to step outside your front door or just to drive to the gym - and once you're there it's up to you what you do.

5. Get a Routine

Make exercise just part of your normal routine. At first you will need to plan it in - after the first few weeks it becomes second nature.

6. Before and After

Before you exercise, rate how you feel about doing it from 1 to 10, 1 being you really don't want to do it all, you think it will be terrible and 10 you're raring to get going and get out there. After you come back, rate how you feel now about having done it. It's rare not to feel really great about it. After a few times you can think about the difference between the before and after feeling to motivate yourself to get going.

7. Be Prepared

Always have your exercise gear ready to grab and go so that it's not another chore which will get in the way when your exercise time comes around.

8. Start the Day with Exercise

Exercise as early as possible in the day so that nothing has a chance to get in the way. You'll feel good all day too.

9. Beat Boredom

Exercise with a friend or with an ipod - or watch the TV at the gym. Change your routes, change your exercise - do whatever it takes to keep yourself interested.

10. Find the Right Activity

Find a sport or activity you enjoy rather than trying to do something you hate.  Sometimes getting involved with a team or club is all it takes to keep your motivation and your interest in exercise high for the rest of your life. And sometimes it just takes finding the right fun activity for you.

Copyright 2007 Janice Elizabeth Small

 

By putting in place my simple system you will lose weight steadily week by week and stay in great shape without dieting for the rest of your life. 

Discover the 24 keys to permanent and healthy weight loss at http://www.simplyslimming.com/dietexitplan.

 

 

On The Forum