10 in 10 Healthy Challenge: Making Exercise a Priority
A common New Year’s goal is to exercise more often. I am a huge believer in exercise. The benefits are endless-prevents chronic diseases, reduces stress, promotes better sleep, helps with weight management…the list could go on and on.
I personally love working out. I enjoy running outside when the weather is nice. I also enjoy using my elliptical machine to get a good cardio workout in. My new favorite workouts are the Les Mills classes-Body Pump and Body Combat are my favorite. I also enjoy yoga, Pilates, hiking, swimming, spinning, walking, tennis, etc. I try to incorporate cardio, strength training, and stretching/flexibility into my weekly workout routine. They are all important.
Choosing the right exercise program is one of the first steps toward sticking with your exercise goals. If you hate running, don’t run. There are LOTS of other exercises you can do. Find one that you enjoy and will actually do.
Try these suggestions to make exercise a priority in your daily routine:
- Plan to exercise at a certain time every day, so it becomes part of your schedule. I workout in the mornings to make sure nothing gets in the way. It is my top priority. **A little tip-sleep in your workout clothes or set them out the night before. It makes the early mornings easier.**
- Mark your calendar with a daily appointment for exercise.
- Write up an exercise plan. Reevaluate every week.
- Keep a diary of all of your exercises or use an online fitness tracker. Log everything you do, and your progress.
- Try joining a gym or recreation center. Paying a membership fee may prompt you to get your money’s worth and go more frequently. Josh and I both have gym memberships. It is worth the money for us because we go all of the time. With that said, a gym membership is not necessary; there are lots of exercises you can do for free. Do what works for you.
- Try fitness videos at home. I like the 30 Day Shred. There are 3 levels-each level is 20 minutes long. If you are short on time, this is a great option.
- Find a workout buddy-a friend, spouse, or family member. It is easier to stick to an exercise plan when you are accountable to someone and have added support. I love going to exercise classes for the motivation and social aspect.
- If you are tired and don’t feel like exercising, put your shoes on and do 10 minutes. Chances are you will keep going.
- Listen to good tunes or watch your favorite TV show/movie while working out. The time will fly by. I have a few workout playlists on my iPod that keep me moving.
- Fit in exercise-take the stairs, walk on your work breaks, park farther away from the store, etc. Every little bit counts. I keep a pair of tennis shoes at work so I can walk on my breaks. My walks are a great stress reliever and they give me an energy boost during the day.
- Remember how you feel after your workouts. They are ALWAYS worth it!
How do you make exercise a priority? Feel free to share your tips.
If you are doing the 10 in 10 challenge? How did the first week go? I am doing pretty well, still working on bumping up my calories, fat, and protein. The #10in10 Twitter group has been VERY helpful. Thanks everyone for your motivation and support.
Check out Lori’s interview on Tablespoon. Thanks again to Lori for organizing!
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Getting up at 5:30 am to jump around and lift weights isn’t my idea of fun, but 5 minutes into the work out I am more awake and energetic than had I slept in till 7:00. That feeling lasts throughout the day and is what keeps me motivated to get up early. I wish I had made exercise a priority sooner!
Great tips, Maria. I scheduled walking right after work with a couple buddies so I feel quilty if I dont go. It’s great motivation to have someone counting on you.
Glad to hear the challenge is going well for you! And hooray for the Body Pump and Combat shout outs. We launched the new pump this morning- it rocks! Especially the squats track. Have a good weekend
It is great that you enjoy exercising and the variety-the latest class I tried was Hoola-hoop. It was much harder than I thought.
Great trips! I love taking classes, but unfortunately the gyms around here don’t offer a lot of options, which is why I have opted for the Wii Your Shape game.
I would like to add that if I don’t workout I get very very cranky. So exercise truly keeps my spirits up even during the darkness and cold of winter, and we all know that winter is a very gloomy time of the year.
Good tips! I find it much easier to exercise when it’s not so cold out. I have a gym membership but when it’s so cold, I don’t even want to go outside to drive to the gym. So, I usually do more workout videos at home during these months!
Great resource! I work out most days and couldn’t get by without it. Working out helps me relieve stress and then I don’t feel so bad when I splurge on something delicious!
I love the idea of committing 10 weeks to a healthy life–it seems so much more doable than a whole year of resolutions
Great idea, good commitment…I’m in too! I love the thought behind Lori’s challenge!
Great tips! You are so informative
Thanks for sharing and again, well done on Ten in ’10. So glad this community is available, as a new blogger I think I may be obsessed!!
this is wonderful. i have a bit of a love/hate relationship with exercise, but i ALWAYS have such better days when i do.
I love exercising every morning and I am like Dawn: if I don’t exercise every day, I get cranky and depressed. I am quite lucky that there is a gym in the building I live
so exercising is very easy for me.
I like your dedication with waking up early and working out. Sets the perfect tone for the day. I agree with all your suggestions, make it fun and a routine, and you’re all set. And don’t forget that endorphin release… its like drugs that are healthy and free
Greta tips. I’m terrible at exercising and I don’t enjoy it at all. I’m trying to make big changes in adding veggies/fruit to my diet though, and hopefully the extra energy will make the exercising better. : )
Ooops.
The benefits of proofreading, eh? Obviously, I meant “great tips.” I don’t know anyone named Greta. : )
I’m not doing the 10 in 10 but Matt & I are making exercise a priority. Having him get up in the morning & go to the gym with me really helps. He’s helped me add weight training to my cardio too
Lovely tips Maria!
Is it too late for me? I would love to start this now.
Great tips everyone! I am glad so many of you are making exercise a priority.
Nicci-It is not too late. Sign up today and join us!
Awesome tips!!
Someone once told me this phrase and it’s stuck with me every since (I’m a workout nut anyway but this one totally got me anyway!). “You’ll never regret working out, you’ll only regret not working out.” It was probably more eloquent than that, but you get the idea. Once your up and at ‘em, you never feel WORSE at the end of the workout, so if you try to envision that when you’re getting up on a particularly cold and snowy morning this winter, it totally helps.
Hey girl! We all receive quarterly releases of each program at the same time, but we can decide individually when to launch them. The newest pump release is 72 and the squats song is a kelly clarkson song- your club probably launched this last week
. In terms of fueling, I try to do something light before hand (either a half an apple with a little nut butter or bread with nut butter) and am usually its meal time after I teach (either breakfast or dinner). Let me know if that helps! Hope you’re having a good weekend <3!
Great tips, Maria! I wish I could just carry around a little version of you all the time, you’re so motivational
–My first week of Ten in 10 went ok… I had alot going against me, but I managed to keep my diet in check!
Excellent tips, Maria! Im so happy to hear that things are going well for you and hope they continue too! For me, making exercise a priority first thing in the morning is a must!!
I love the Les Mills classes too. If you have not tried Body Step you need too! I love it the best of all!
SLEEP in those workout clothes… what a great idea
I need to work out in the morning, or it simply doesn’t get done. Getting myself out of bed and dressed is half the challenge! Great tips!
First, sorry I’m so late on commenting. I’m catching up in Google Reader!
Second, these are great tips to help incorporate exercise into your schedule on a more regular basis. I find that setting aside the same specific time each day is a tremendous help. I just signed up for my second half marathon (gulp!) and outlined my training plan last night. The next step is for me to block off time for running and cross-training in my calendar.
Good work, Maria!