Making physical activity a part of your daily life isn’t an easy undertaking. It takes dedication, will power, patience, and a lot of hard work. But believe it or not, it’s not as hard as it may first appear, and you might even be surprised to find that you enjoy your new found lifestyle and the benefits it offers. But before we jump right in we’ll want to look at five steps that will help you stay safe, have fun, and be successful at getting fit. Let’s take a look at these five rules.
Step 1: Talk with your Doctor
It is important to talk with your health care provider to identify whether your plans for physical activity are safe and right for you.
Step 2: Identify your barriers
Common barriers include a fear of discomfort, a lack of time, or a risk of injury. Begin by examining what barriers have prevented you from being physically active in the past, and find ways to address them.
Step 3: Choose your weapon
Identify what you are going to do to get physically active. Are you going to join a gym (Read: How to Choose a Health Club), start by walking, take on a new sport, or sign up for an aerobics or other fitness class?
Step 4: Set your goals
Goals are actually one of the most important parts of your plan to get physically active. (Read: Choosing the Right Goal & Finding Success) In many ways, they provide the road-map for your success. Basically, you can’t get to where you want, if you don’t know where you’re going.
Step 5: Get motivated
Motivation will be a key factor in your success towards getting fit. Also, try to find someone who will support you or – even better – exercise with you. Having someone to keep you on track when you feel like loafing may just make the difference between success and starting over next year.
This article was originally included in the Fall 2013 issue of our seasonal magazine.