Get Active Stay Active

by Tracey De Simon

Get Active Stay Active

Summer is almost here, so below is a quick-and-dirty primer on the reasons you should be exercising coupled with some rah-rah motivational strategies to get you going and keep you going.

Exercise benefits

Energy increase

Manufacture and release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good chemicals

Amplified strength and stamina

Increase in brain power, clear thinking

Disease and disability prevention

Better, deeper, more restful sleep

Alleviates depression

Decreases stress

Increases lean tissue and decreases body fat

Enhances circulation

Keeps bones strong and prevents osteoporosis

Increases self-esteem

Helps to break other bad habits: eating junk food, smoking, drinking alcohol to excess

Exercise myths

Aerobic exercise is more important than strength training

You have to be skinny to be healthy

How you look is more important than how you feel

You have to exercise constantly to realize any benefit

No pain, no gain

Laziness makes you fat – overweight is a character flaw

Exercise facts

Amount of activity determines overall health, not body size

Feel good, look good

Any exercise is better than none at all

Heredity is the single most determining factor of body size

Motivation to begin

Use self rewards

Toot your own horn: make a big deal of every accomplishment

Take a class through your local parks and rec – something you’ve always meant to do like belly dancing or water ballet

Start a group and perform fitness videos together

Be active with your family – quality time like biking, hiking, swimming, even flying kites or learning to skateboard together

Motivation to continue

Make exercise a priority (it has to be equal to brushing your teeth and putting on your shoes)

Find the time (watch your agenda)

Assign a time (consistency)

Do it (make it fun)

Make it a habit (it’ll take 6-8 weeks for the habit to be ingrained, so stick with it)

Use positive thinking (Tell yourself you’re giving yourself a gift, not depriving yourself of time to watch TV)

Reduce the obstacles (put your exercise clothes out before you go to bed, keep your bike in top condition, pay for your gym membership ahead of time)

Hitch exercise to an essential (bike to work!)

Have others help you be accountable

Find a role model

Acknowledge that there are pros and cons

Don’t sweat the times you don’t exercise – give yourself permission to skip once in a while