Increase Your Chances of Sticking With Your Exercise Program
By Jon Benson
Why do so many people have trouble sticking with their exercise programs? Two big reasons: boredom and the lack of a larger purpose.
The boredom is easy to solve: Break up your workouts. Lift weights, then walk, then do some bodyweight exercises, go hiking, play tennis, etc.
Having a purpose can increase your chance of succeeding at any goal. To develop a greater purpose when it comes to exercise and fitness:
1. Take inventory of the things you value the most in life. Examples might include "love," "faith," "family," and "self-respect."
2. "Link" your three main core values to your fitness goals. For example, link "family" to fitness with an "anchoring sentence" like this: "Being my Ideal Weight will allow me to live longer and spend more time with my family."
3. Combine your three "anchoring sentences" into a "Unified Purpose Statement." Start with this: "Beginning today and for the rest of my life, I accept nothing less than the best for myself concerning my health and my fitness." Then list your three anchoring sentences. End with specific short-term and long-term goals. |
