Did it ever happen to you that after deciding to walk on the treadmill, you realize swimming was better? Or after doing the aerobics for a week, you feel may be Yoga was a better idea? This is what we call the ‘exercise hang-over’ in which the other program somehow seems more attractive simply because you lose conviction in yours.
Some of ALW Team members were suffering from this recently and that’s what triggered a blog idea under this column. People, lets fact it. We lose conviction in our exercise program for two very simple reasons: one, we have been irregular in following it. Two, starting something is always easier than continuing it.
So let’s get realistic about it. When it comes to health, nothing works unless it is regular and consistent. And lets get it straight – changing exercise regimen often is more unproductive than being irregular but doing the same thing. So Lesson No 1: Stick to your plan, come what may.
The next major pitfall of exercising is to set some imaginative, quick-fix but unrealistic plans about losing or gaining weight. Please understand this, if someone has given you a target of losing 30 pounds in a month, this is unhealthy in more than one ways. First, it is unrealistic and so when you don’t reach the target, you will feel demotivated. Two, for your body it is extremely unrealistic to lose that much in such a short period. Lesson No 2: Make a realistic target.
Another aspect of setting unrealistic goals is also to try to do many things in a short span of time. For example, you have joined swimming. You run every morning plus you go the gym. How would you consistently find time for all this? Also, wouldn’t it affect consistently which is ultimately not conducive? Hence Lesson No 3: Try to follow one regime and stick to it.
On your gym instructor’s suggestion, you are following a certain diet. But are you also drinking enough water? That’s another important lesson. Your body has started consistent exercise, it badly needs fluids. However, instead of going in for many sweet juices, drink lots of water during the day to make up for the dehydration. Lesson No 4: Drink lots of water.
If you look at all these lessons, you will be able to really actualize your exercise regimen. It’s very important to follow timetable consistency. That’s the biggest key to be really effective in your health exercise life. So go ahead, implement it now. And trust your exercise programme.