Back to Previous Page

Fighting Your Inner Sloth: Getting Into a Daily Exercise Routine

The process of adding exercise to your busy life can be difficult, but it can be done. Even lifelong exercisers had to start somewhere. The first step is realizing that you need to start, and then deciding you are ready to start.
After you commit to adding exercise into your life, you need to decide whether you need to join a gym. In a study of 235 men and women aged 35-65, researchers compared two types of two-year interventions to persuade people to become more active. During the first six months, one group was asked to work out at a gym at least three times a week for 20 or 30 minutes, working up to a traditional five-day-a-week workout goal. The nontraditional group attended weekly discussion sessions and learned how to overcome obstacles to exercise. This group could work out at a gym or on their own. Preliminary results from the study suggest that both groups improved their fitness, although the gym-based group had better results. Members of both groups had equal improvements in blood pressure and total cholesterol reduction, proving the nontraditional approach shows promise.
An organized program is often important for novices. A study of 128 women, published in the Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology found that organized exercise programs work best to treat overweight women. However, as soon as the participants were excused from the schedule, their exercise habits disintegrated.
Finding the motivation to exercise is different for every person. While one person may enjoy exercising with a spinning class, another may like being one with nature during a trail run in the woods.
Some people turn to the sports that they enjoy watching for inspiration. If you enjoy watching basketball, you may want to look for some pickup basketball games in your neighborhood. However, remember to inject some realism into your expectations. You won't be able compete at the same level as your favorite NBA player.
Once people become regular exercisers, they share certain characteristics, such as:
  • Always having a Plan B —If they intended to go for a walk and it is raining, they head for an exercise bike.
  • Seeing exercise as a welcome break, not an imposition
  • Rewarding themselves for sticking with it
  • Expecting obstacles —Something is going to get in the way, such as an injury. Regular exercisers view it as a temporary bump in the road and not a barrier.
  • Not overexerting —An injury can cause many adult exercisers to drop out of their routine. Long term exercisers aren't as likely to experience serious injuries due to their appropriate level of activity.
  • Keeping themselves entertained —Many studies have found that music provides positive encouragement and motivation to those who exercise.
  • Exercising in the morning —The later it gets, the more excuses most people find not to work out.
  • Learning how to win those "internal dialogues'' —Your inner athlete must have the last word.

RESOURCES

American Council on Exercise http://www.acefitness.org

American Heart Association http://www.heart.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Public Health Agency of Canada http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Canada Safety Council http://safety-council.org

RESOURCES

Costas I, Priest DL. Music in the exercise domain: a review and synthesis (part II). Int Rev Sport Exerc Psychol. 2012;5(1):67-84.

Dunn AL, Marcus BH, et al. Comparison of lifestyle and structured interventions to increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness: a randomized trial. JAMA. 1999;281(4):327-34.

Wadden T, Vogt R, Andersen R, et al. Exercise in the treatment of obesity: Effects of four interventions on body composition, resting energy expenditure, appetite, and mood. J Consult Clin Psych. 1997;65(2):269-77.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Copyright © EBSCO Publishing
All rights reserved.