Got up this morning and hit the YMCA before going to teach my Senior Fitness class. This was an especially impressive accomplishment because where I live it is wicked cold today and so windy I'm surprised my little honda didn't get swept away.
It's so easy to come up with excuses for not exercising. A few things help me to stay committed:
1. A work-out partner. My work-out partner is pretty much opposite from me in personality and I can say without question that she would never have approached me and asked me to exercise with her. Lucky for her, I had no qualms about getting in her business. So there we were at the Y one day and I noticed we were lifting about the same amount of weight on the machines. I told her I needed a partner; she said she did too. We consummated the relationship by exchanging email addresses and phone numbers, and presto! For the first time in years I have an exercise buddy.
2. Accountability. For me, that comes here, in the blog. But I've also had other sources of accountability. At one time my sister and I decided we were going to get up early and exercise together. Only problem, she lives about nine hours away from me. So, we called each other, did our work-out, and then called back to say we were done. It worked for awhile, but then the whole getting up early thing got in the way . . . The blog is available 24 hours a day. . .
3. Enjoyable exercise. Okay, the exercise itself doesn't really have to be enjoyable. I can't stand to walk or to run--either outside or in a neighborhood. But I enjoy these things with my work-out buddy because we get to visit. I also like to read and so working out on a cardio machine while reading is appealing to me. And I love to dance. Anything that comes remotely close to that is fun for me: Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution, Aerobics, all that.
4. A specific goal. Exercising every day for 10 days is a measurable, doable goal for me. Considering exercising consistently for the rest of my life makes me want a piece of cheesecake.
One more day.
Decreasing,
Aileen
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Yay yay yay, you're almost there!! Mama didn't do Wi fit yesterday because, well, we took a "shortcut" through the snow. Added thirty minutes to our fifteen-minute walk. Yippee. THAT was fun.
ReplyDeleteOne more day! And an almost-happy-birthday to Margaret!!
~~Emma~~
I've been doing really well. Your challenge is in my head! I got started later than you, but I've got 6 days in. Loving the natural exercise of shoveling snow and walking (miles) to get the kids from sleepovers. This snow has been a great jumpstart for me. Come to think of it, I've exercised every single day I've been home! Home is always good for me.
ReplyDeleteOh! and I beat Mitch on one of the Wii games -- the bird one, where you have to hit targets by floating down? Can't believe I beat him. I know he wasn't trying hard, but I don't care.