Health & Well-Being-Get your exercise program off to a good start!
One of the best ways to ensure success in a fitness program is start it off on the right foot. Here are some helpful hints from the San Diego-based American Council on Exercise:
• Be specific. Specific goals are easier to stick with than vague resolutions like, "I will exercise more." Make a specific plan of action such as "I will go for a walk on Tuesday and Thursday, and take an exercise class on Monday and Friday."
• Find an exercise partner. There's one in every crowd —someone who'll stand at your office door in their workout clothes panting for you to take a lunchtime walk with them. Find someone who has a routine already established and let them know they are going to be your exercise guru for the next six months. Knowing how good it makes them feel, most exercise enthusiasts will jump at the opportunity to help an ambivalent exerciser get started on a regular routine.
• Be realistic. Be sure your action plan fits realistically into your lifestyle. Do you really have the energy to go out for that evening exercise class? Make changes as easy and convenient as possible.
• Use variety. Walk one day, go to the gym the next. Bring your kids to the park where they can play and take a brisk walk. Try ballet or go to a yoga class. Do something you enjoy and avoid activities you don't. Strive for consistency, but don't overdo it.
• Don't focus on weight loss. Don't let your weight be the index of your success — concentrate on moderate exercise and a healthy, low-fat diet.
• Get help. Hiring a certified personal trainer to develop a program that will help you accomplish your fitness goals will save you time, and it is money well spent. Half a dozen sessions spread out over three months will allow a personal trainer to monitor your progress and make modifications as needed.
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