Which word is worse??? Diet or Exercise???
I find with both that my motivation is often the key factor to success…. or sometimes it is my willingness to battle with my LACK of motivation that is the key to exercise success.
One of the first things I learned was to pick a realistic time to exercise. There are many wonderful morning people out there who are happy to get out of bed to run a mile or ride a bike. Not me, nope, NO WAY. I am not getting out of bed for anything….. not even breakfast! I hop out of my bed at the last minute possible in order to shower, throw on clothing and make it to work on time. Breakfast comes at morning snack break. Therefore, setting a goal to get up early to exercise would be futile. I prefer to exercise at night. This mostly works for me, even though it cuts into my knitting, lounging, and email catch-up time.
Another key is to start slow and do not overdo it. I started with 15-20 minutes per day. I slowly increased to 40 minutes a day and then 60. I started off riding my exercise bike on very low tension and have slowly increased the tension for a harder workout – all in moderation. I now ride the bike for 60 minutes daily and about half of that time is riding with a higher tension for a better workout.
Finally, I have minimized my workout boredom and helped to pass the time by finding good videos and TV shows to watch while on the bike (since knitting on the bike turned out to be a catastrophe – I need my hands to be holding the handles…. darn it!) I think that TV while biking has made the time more tolerable. I do not watch a lot of TV, so this makes exercise time a treat. If you are a TV watcher, well there is no excuse! You might as well be on a stationary bike or treadmill or ski machine while watching your favorite TV shows.
Changing my diet helped me to feel much better and did rid me of my blood sugar highs and lows, but that was only part of the equation. Adding the exercise also contributed to my feeling healthier and having more energy. I feel my muscles growing and I also feel it when I walk – my entire body feels lighter (and not just because I lost a few kilos). What a sense of accomplishment when it is clear you feel better from all the hard work to stick with a healthy eating and exercise plan.
It is possible. You can do it. STAY THE COURSE!
In health~
400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 