How to Start a New Exercise Habit
Posted on August 24, 2011 by Cheryl Cope, One of Thousands of Christian Coaches on Noomii.
Helpful tips on starting a new exercise habit.
Choose one exercise habit to start with.
Don’t try to change five different things at once regarding your new fitness routine. Pick only one thing to change at first.
Plan ahead.
Do the thinking and research needed to plan for your change. What kind of exercising have you enjoyed in the past? Do you like to exercise alone or do you prefer groups? Do you like to be outside or inside? Have you looked into any of the local fitness clubs in your area? You may need to join a local health club or purchase some exercise equipment or exercise videos for your home. Look into it before you even try to start your new habit.
Plan on exercising every day.
Plan on exercising every day at the same time. This one may be a little harder to accomplish since your body actually needs rest and recovery time in between workouts but it will be so much easier to establish it as a solid habit if you do it every day. The thing to do is to vary the exercises that you do. If you are trying to start exercising aerobically, then plan on walking one day, swimming the next day, bicycling the next day or using a rowing or stairclimber machine in your variety. You can also vary the intensity of your workouts to give your body a break so you could walk slowly on your rest days.
Get support.
Tell people of your plans. Enlist the help of those close to you. Find a buddy to go walking with or to meet you at the gym. Join an online support group. Hire a personal trainer or coach.
