Overcoming Resistance to Exercise

Are You Destined to Sit on the Couch?

If someone mentions exercise do you think, "I hate to exercise. There's no way I'm doing that. Exercise is hard, it's a drag, it takes too much time." These types of beliefs may be keeping you from discovering a fun way to add to your weight loss plan.

I'm a prime example. When I was younger I didn't like participating in sports. I felt I was clumsy, I couldn't throw a ball to save my life, and I'd rather not try to catch one (might hurt myself). I never felt confident about my ability on the practice field and I didn't have a competitive spirit. I didn't really care if I won, which tended to anger my teammates. So, if anyone talked to me about exercise I'd say, "Thanks, but no thanks, I hate sports." But something funny happened on the way to the locker room; I discovered weight lifting. Keep your eyes and ears open and you may discover some activity you love.

If you're perfectly happy sitting on the couch, then just accept you'll stay heavier because of it. It is perfectly fine to choose not to get up and move around, but if you do get up more often, you'll find that it feels good to move. Our bodies were designed to bend and flex. Physical activity just feels good.

Change How You Think And You'll Change How You Feel About Exercise

Lots of people say they hate to exercise, many because they relate exercise to grade school physical education class where they had to wear dorky shorts, hated how they looked, and weren't as athletic as the other kids so they felt bad or were chose last for teams. (I wanted to be chosen last, I really hated sports). Maybe too, they just hated dressing down in front of all the other kids.

These early unpleasant experiences leave most of us dreading the mere thought of "exercise." You may have noticed kids who did enjoy sports though. They were always a bit healthier, running, jumping, becoming out of breath and slapping each other on the back. They seemed to have something you didn't. A certain vitality, zest for life? Wouldn't you like some of that?

Exercise can be anything you do that isn't just sitting or lying down. Walking upstairs or down is exercise, carrying grocery bags is exercise, and so is bending and stretching to wash clothes or load the dishwasher. It's all a chance to move, and movement is exercise. All the chores around the house are exercise. Start to pay attention to how you move. Bend from the waist and squat down, using your leg muscles. Stand on tip-toe while you brush your teeth. Don't grumble when you have to go get the mail; be happy! It's exercise time.

If you like participating in sports maybe you can find some like minded neighbors and put together a few evenings a week basketball game? If you start something and are consistent, then exercise will help you lose weight even faster. So called weekend warriors are better than nothing, but try to add something mid-week as well. Walking is good, brisk walking is even better. It may be for you that simply getting up from your chair is exercise.

Getting Started with Exercise for Weight Loss

We all must start at our beginning point and work from there. If walking to the front door is your exercise, good. Start there. Get up and walk to the door and back again, every day working toward the day when you walk out the front door and to the street. Imagine, one day you'll be walking around the block. It may not sound like much, but it isn't a question of quantity but quality.

I once heard of someone who'd been in a terrible accident and she used rolls of pennies in her hand for weights. Now that is truly starting at the bottom but eventually she regained strength and today is healthy and happy. If you're reluctant to exercise, it could be how you think of exercise. Change from thinking of it as jumping jacks and running laps to something fun like hiking in the woods or walking on the beach. A change in perspective could be all it takes to overcome your resistance to exercise.

Finally, an Exercise Even I Could Do!

My love weight lifting (body building) because it's something I can do by myself (I don't lift so heavy as to require a spotter), and I can see results quickly (usually in six weeks or less you will notice a real difference with weight lifting). I also ride a stationary bike because I can read while I ride and I LOVE reading. The idea is to find something you really like so you'll continue to do it. If you joined the gym and you dread it, then it's not likely you'll continue that program for the long-term.

All Movement Counts as Exercise

What about gardening? I know a lot of people wouldn't consider gardening strenuous enough but I beg to differ. What was it that kept most people in better condition 50 years ago? It was more walking to the corner store, standing at the fence gabbing with a neighbor, sweeping the floors, beating the rugs, mopping, washing tubs of laundry by hand, chopping firewood, hanging clothes outdoors (my mom used to do this). Chores kept us healthy. Today those of us who do our own chores have a lot of work savers like washing machines, clothes dryers and car washes. Even the grocery clerks don't get the exercise of moving their fingers because now they simply swipe the food over the scanner.

Some people get a rowing machine or treadmill and put it in front of the TV and exercise while watching their favorite shows. If you're going to watch TV no matter what, put equipment in front of it and go for it. Living rooms are perfect places to put some equipment. Most of us hardly use that room at all and generally it's one of the largest in the house! Add to your exercise time until you've got around 30 minutes or more a day of actual movement and you'll see the pounds slipping away.

Realize that all movement counts and you'll start to feel better about regular household chores (maybe you will, at least give it a try). Do you have stairs? There's a piece of workout equipment and it didn't cost you a thing. You can walk up and down them, stand on the edge of one and raise and lift your heels (calf raises). Walk on tip toe sometimes. Every time you get up from a chair, use your leg muscles, maybe even sit down again and do it again. Stand against the wall and slowly lower yourself to a sitting position (or as low as is comfortable even if it's only a quarter inch).

Your House is a Fully Equipped Gym

Your house is a fully equipped gym, so start to use it. Just because you don't own fancy equipment or don't belong to the gym doesn't mean you can get regular exercise. Look around and be resourceful. Empty milk jugs filled with sand are heavy enough for most men to use as weights. Canned food can become a handy weight too. See what ideas you can find and have fun putting some exercise into your daily life.

~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of the free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com

Get The Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss.

---

Life Walking: Dont Walk Just For Exercise - Change Your Life

"Life walking" is more than walking for exercise and fitness... Read More

4 Steps To More Effective Aerobic, Streching, and Weight Training Exercise

We all know that well-balanced diets include the different nutrients... Read More

Home Gym Workout Routines

Home gym workout routines can take the hassle out of... Read More

Will Your Personal Trainer Help You Achieve Your Goals?

Hiring a personal trainer can be a significant investment ?... Read More

10 Best Workout Tips

Top Trainers share their secrets to getting slim, toned and... Read More

Got A Cold - Should You Work Out?

A recent study sponsored by the American College of Sports... Read More

Professional Triathlon Training Taking You To Your Best

There are hundreds of different programs for professional triathlon training... Read More

6 Things A Norwegian Fable Teaches Us About Healthy Perseverance Part 1

Author, H. Besser, in his book, "Perseverance: How To Develop... Read More

Defeating Back Pain Forever

Back pain, one of the most common physical, and debilitating... Read More

Who Else Wants To Get In Shape in 35 Minutes?

Most of the physical fitness trainers, and coaches agree that... Read More

Your Guide to Joining the Right Gym

Whether you want to look good on the beach this... Read More

Triathalon Racing, It Starts At The Beginning

Long before you can enter into triathalon racing, you will... Read More

The Truth About Exercise and Why Its Not Always Good for You!

Exercise is often regarded as a panacea for many things..."if... Read More

5 Mistakes People Makes When Doing a Workout Program

When you start out with a workout program - whether... Read More

Elements of Exercise

Warm upWarming up before exercising has physiological and psychological benefits.... Read More

Top 3 Back Pain Risk Factors

Lower back pain is an increasingly common problem in fact... Read More

Top 10 Most Outrageous Exercises I?ve Ever Seen

In the course of my experience working and training in... Read More

The Bad Workout: Some Advice for Female Bodybuilders

Bad workouts. We have all had them at some time... Read More

Overcoming Resistance to Exercise

Are You Destined to Sit on the Couch?If someone mentions... Read More

Get Fit From Home!

Using Things Around The House Don't feel that just because... Read More

Lance Armstrong and Exercise - From Denial to Desire!

Press Conference 1996 ? Lance Armstrong On Wednesday October 2,... Read More

Use an Exercise Training Diary to Keep Your Workouts on Track

A road map is a very handy tool when you're... Read More

Exercise Intensity

"Physical Fitness"Some physical activities (exercise) are not intense enough to... Read More

Top 10 Tips For Finding Time For Exercise

If you're like most people, finding time for exercise... Read More

10 Workout Mistakes Cheaters Make

"When I'm lifting free weights, I tend to go pretty... Read More

4 Exercises That Will Help You Change Your Body Faster Than Any Other Exercises You May Have Tried

1. Lunges with a barbell. Properly executed, this exercise is... Read More

Tai Chi, NOT Chai Tea!

Those of you that have either completed a one-on-one program,... Read More

How to Get Better Exercise Results By Improving Hydration

Water and ExerciseYour body excretes water in a number of... Read More

Forget Exercise - Go Play

Can't seem to get the energy or motivation to exercise?... Read More

Lance Armstrong?s Training Tactics ? The Tortoise or the Hare?

I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More

Top 10 Exercise Mistakes and How To Fix Them

This is a list of ten common mistakes made during... Read More

Exercise Program

The exercise program you choose depends entirely on your fitness... Read More

The New Discovery That Makes It Possible To Get An Effective Workout In Less Time

The Art of Multifunctional TrainingPeople often complain about how they... Read More