Guilty

I have to admit something: I haven't worked out in...wait for it...TWO MONTHS! For someone who counsels people on healthy lifestyle behaviors, this is really bad. I like to say that I don't just talk the talk but also walk the walk (no pun intended), but I'm human and like many people I struggle with getting motivated to exercise. The good news is that this helps me relate to a lot of people I counsel, which is why I'm willing to bet there are many of you out there who struggle with this very same issue. The bad news for those of you who don't want to hear it is that there is really no good excuse not to exercise on a regular basis (unless of course you have an acute or chronic illness or injury).

Exercise is seriously THE best preventative medicine. Not only can it help reduce the risk for overweight-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, but it can also help reduce stress. Ever had a TERRIBLE day where you just wish you had never gotten out of bed?  Well it's no myth; go for a walk or jog and you'll likely feel much better after! Save yourself and those around you from needless trauma and take your stress out on the treadmill!

So why the sudden admission? I just got a well-deserved lecture from my doctor. Yep...from one health professional to another, I got a stern talking to. In my defense, I fell off the workout wagon during Thanksgiving when I caught the flu. It took me a good month to recover, but I have no excuse for the extra month I've taken off. So it looks like its time to hit the gym. Good thing I know a thing or two about where to begin...and in case you're interested, I'm happy to share!

Step #1: Find your motivation.
The first step is finding what motivates you (if this sounds familiar, refer back to my last post!). Why do you want to exercise? Pinpointing why it is important to you and reminding yourself of that when you hit a slump is a great strategy for overcoming the exercise blues. For me, it's a mixture of several factors: stress-management, weight control, and being able to march back into my doctor's office next year and proudly report that I worked out EVERY DAY since my last visit. Did I mention I'm a HUGE people-pleaser? It's a curse, really.

Step #2: Find what will keep you coming back for more.
Next, find a way to enjoy exercise. Choose activities that you like (or at the very least don't hate!). In my case, it varies. Some days just the thought of running makes me want to puke (I'm also a bit of a drama queen!), so I take it easy with a moderate-paced walk or pilates instead. Other days, I'm good for a three mile run. And that's FINE! Do what you feel like and enjoy it. If you make yourself miserable, you won't want to exercise, and you want to want to exercise!

Distractions are also great for making exercise enjoyable. Whether that means listening to an awesome playlist on your iPod while you pump some iron or watching Friends on your iPad while you jog your heart out on the treadmill...whatever works, go for it!

Step #3: Make a schedule.
Find time to exercise and don't make excuses. Make yourself a priority. If that means rearranging some things, then rearrange some things. You might be surprised to find you have more time than you realized when you allow yourself to be flexible.

Step #4: Well...what are you waiting for? JUST DO IT!
Let Nike's slogan be your anthem. The quickest way to get over the exercise blues is to get back in the gym. And if you fall off schedule, all is not lost. Just get right back in there and don't look back.

And that's my pep talk for the day. With that, I'm headed to the gym...wish me luck!