OK, we are moving right along! Now, maybe you have an exercise that you love...maybe you don't. One of the reasons to start out slow and build over time is to find that exercise that makes you want to exercise, to find that time of day that works for you. You need both those things if you are serious about making activity a habit for life.
For me, I like mornings because it is when it is coolest here in Houston, and quietest. Some of you up north might not have a need or desire like that, some of you may want to do things in your house or apt for awhile. Right now I say try as many different things as you can, you never know what might reach out to you, or into you, and move you in more ways than just your body.
For example, if I can get to a park in the early morning hours, with my mp3, it is truly a great and rewarding experience, talk about releasing stress. Sometimes I can't make it to the park, so my back up is the treadmill in the garage! You gotta have a back up right?
Here is a good web-site by the Mayo Clinic with tips on how to get an exercise program going that works for you.
If you vary your exercise routines you are much more likely to keep exercising, and much more likely to enjoy it! Here is a good article at About.com regarding the study and another one about the benefits of exercise variety.
I found an interesting article from Johns Hopkins about how exercise variety seems to reduce the risk Alzheimer's.
I think my favorite sites about exercise though can be found at WebMd. Their "Calorie Counter" is actually an activity calorie counter, and can tell you the amount of calories that different activities can burn. You can play with intensity, time and weight to see what you can do.
Another great site there is the "Metabolism Counter". Now this is interesting; you plug in your current weight and activity and can see how much you burn daily. I like to plug the weight I want to be, and then turn up the activity to where I want to be and look at the difference...and WOW is it a lot, like around 1,000 calories more than what I am eating now at my fat weight! If I can ever get to that level, life will be sweet!
Try some different things, do what you can, what is convenient, what is available, what you know you can go back to again and again...and once in a while... try something new again just to mix it up!
Anyway, check these places out and let us know if you have any other sites or info to share!
Lets get some ideas going out there in the comment section of different activities we can all do, or try....
I agree--a back-up is critical. What if it gets dark before I can get out for a walk/run? What if the weather is nasty? There are always things that I can do---even walking/running up and down the stairs in the house for 15 minutes. And the fact that there is always another option makes me feel VERY guilty if I don't use it. I can't tell myself that I couldn't exercise because of weather or darkness.
Posted by: Margaret | October 11, 2006 at 22:09