Realistic Exercise Plan - One You'll Stick To

We have all begun and then faltered with an exercise plan. What makes some stick and not others? Being realistic in your plan helps. Here are some helpful tips to help you develop an exercise plan you can live with.

* Be reasonable.  Making an exercise plan is great, but let’s be realistic.  If you’re not a runner and start out running 5 miles a day, you’ll find it hard to stick to the routine.  Start small and make gradual increases to your exercise plan.  Start by working out 20-30 minutes a day, three days a week.  Once you’ve stuck to that for a few weeks, then progress to longer periods, harder workouts, or more frequency.  

* Have some fun.  Treadmills and stair machines are great ways to burn calories fast.  They’re also great ways to get bored and stop going to the gym.  If you’re bored, you’re much more likely to make excuses to skip your workout.  Try new things till you find something you like.  If you’re having fun while you work out, you’re much more likely to keep doing it.  Working out with a friend and listening to great music might help too.

* Give yourself a reward.  Develop a reward system for yourself, i.e. “if I stick to my workout all week, I get a pedicure”.  Longer term might work for you, i.e., "if I stick to my routine for 3 months, I get a new iPod." If you find you’re rewarding yourself without achieving your goals, get someone you can depend on to hold you accountable.

* Bring along a friend.  People who work out with a buddy are a lot more likely to stick with an exercise plan.  If you have a workout date set up, you’ll feel bad if you cancel it, so you’re more likely to go.  You also have the benefit of a voice of encouragement pushing you along.  Lastly, having someone there to talk to will make the time fly by faster and you’ll get bored less quickly.

* Mix it up.  We already know that getting bored can keep you from going to work out.  Even if you really like a certain physical activity, you’ll probably still get bored with it eventually.  Instead of doing the same exercise every time, find several activities you like and alternate them.

* Get a personal trainer.  Personal trainers are people you pay to not only develop the best exercise plan for your body and goals, they also help you stay on track by giving you tips, motivation, and are there to hold you accountable.  Yes, personal trainers can be expensive, but if you’re serious about losing weight and sticking with it, it may worth it to trim fat in other areas of your budget.  Plus, that money you spent will be more of a motivator to keep going.

Finding a workout plan that works for you means you'll be well on your way to a healthy, fit new you.