Are you looking in the mirror or at the scale in dismay? Maybe your New Year’s resolutions fizzled out over the year or like me your routine got lost somewhere on vacation.  I ache all over today from too many good workouts all in a row.  I’m tired.  I laugh at myself because I ought to know better.  When I studied to become a personal trainer, I learned that the most common problem beginners have is working too hard, too fast.  It is really easy to become too tired, too sore, and lose efficiency.  Then, instead of feeling sharp and blessed by the exercise, the pain and exhaustion lead us to throw the plan out, the same plan that when spaced properly would benefit everything else in our lives.

Seven months.  Just seven months is the average lifespan of a fitness resolution.  It is long enough to make a dent in our goals and get a little bored, but not long enough to set a pattern for life.  We have to remember that what we want in fitness is a lifestyle pattern, not a quick fix.  Seven months has come and gone.  Maybe now is a good time to revisit your goals and see if you are on target to meet them by 2016.

Learn from the excuses and failures

For years my fitness life looked something like a mountain range with peaks and valleys.  On the peak months I had a good fitness routine.  I felt healthy and strong.  I exercised regularly enough to make significant progress and made it past the beginner aches and pains.  Sometimes I even made it to the “runner’s high” where I felt fabulous, like I could run forever.  But those times were always cut short by something.

If you are like me and keep running into problems where you are never able to maintain a workout schedule for more than a few months at a time, you might benefit from an examination of the excuses and problems.  Do you have repeating patterns?

I had two:  allergies and joint problems.  So, in the valleys, I was sick in bed hardly able to breathe or at the physical therapist’s office trying to regain the regular use of my knees.  Hardly a fun way to spend the other 6 months out of the year.

I loved to run, so it was hard to find a motivation to try something else, but a few weeks in physical therapy for a sore, cricked neck finally motivated me physically and financially to look at the past several years.  If I was going to get in shape and stay in shape, I couldn’t ignore these chronic problems.  I had to find an indoor, low impact solution.

Learn from what works

I found it was incredibly hard for me to prioritize working out without scheduling it in.  If it was on my personal schedule, it was flexible, too flexible.  The slightest need at home or request from a friend could side track me, and I’d miss it altogether.  Having a class that was part of my schedule solved the problem.  The time was non-negotiable and out of my control.  That was just the structure I needed to hold the time free and prioritize it.

The YMCA where I go had child watch for my youngest son, who was home alone with me all day, so it was a good thing for him, too, to socialize with friends his age.  I couldn’t do what I needed to for myself without it also being good for my family.  It has to work with your needs and your schedule, but it also has to work with your body, your family, and/or your teams.

List what you are looking for

You don’t have to know the answer to start listing the characteristics of the solution.  For example, for me, I was looking for an exercise program that:

• was indoors,
• that I could afford, (it was worth some money, less expensive than physical therapy/doctor visits)
• that was gentle on my joints,
• that was challenging (or I knew I’d hate it),
• with a lot of variety (or I knew I’d hate it),
• that had child care that benefitted my child,
• that got me out of the house,
• and helped me get to know others (I love to meet new people)
• that fit into my schedule and helped me schedule it (a consistent class)

When you have the list of the criteria you are looking for, you can more accurately recognize the prize solution or opportunity when it finds you.  Until you do, go for as many wins as you can.

A friend told me she already had a walking routine that worked for her.  She asked me if it was adequate.  I told her that if she enjoyed doing it, if she looked forward to doing it and could visualize herself still doing it in five years, then she definitely had a winner.  That isn’t just a workout, that is how she lives.

You don’t have to like it

I was at my daughter’s specialist who informed her, “You don’t brush your teeth for fun.  You just do it.”  He was talking about exercise, that it is a maintenance item that just has to be done.  Like brushing your teeth or taking a shower, we all just need to do it.  Although it sounds harsh, it is really good advice.  Until we find something we like better, we just need to do it.

Studies show that overall movement is important.  With so much computer and electronic time, we can spend hours in our seats.  It is worse than couch potato status.  Any movement, especially in 10 minute increments or more, is better than none.

Make it Useful

My favorite way to exercise is to work hard.  It not only gets the exercise done, but it also moves the pile of dirt into the garden or vacuums the house, or shines the shower.  If you have a regular chore or errand day, you might try pumping up your favorite tunes and work with the gusto of a cardio routine.

Motivate Yourself

Although you don’t have to like it, you might as well.  We all continue practices we enjoy and tend to distance ourselves from things we don’t like.  It helps to know your preferences and nature so you can work with yourself instead of against.

If you love variety and the same old routine is getting you down, try something new or try periodization.  Periodization is like a sports season.  You split the year up into three or four sections. You could join different sports teams or you could just change up your exercise routine two to four times a year.  For example, maybe you’d like to run outside for 3 months, run on the treadmill listening to books on tape or study tapes you made yourself for 3 months, use the weight room for 3 months and take a dance class or join a sports team for 3 months.  Periodization not only gives you a lot more variety and something different to look forward to, but it can also help keep you from overusing particular joints that can lead to overuse injuries.

I made it past 7 months.  I was headed into a year of consistent attendance.  We’d changed our diet to meet the needs of our family and I’d lost a lot of weight.  As the year came to an end, I could feel my commitment waver.  I had made it!  And I was in danger of quitting.

I realized that if I was going to stay strong with this fitness plan I needed more motivation than getting in shape.  I needed to know what would help me keep in shape.  For me, that was teaching.  I love to teach pilates and yoga at the Y.  I love to help others care well for themselves and to become successful at living well together.  I might not keep coming back just for me, but I knew I would be there for my friends.

If you take the time to find a creative way to love what you have to do, I am sure you are more likely to be consistently successful.  And, if you have to just go through the motions for now, at least find your favorite music or book on tape to accompany you.  After all, there is no rule that you have to be miserable.

Never quit even if you have to quit

To read more of DarEll S. Hoskisson’s articles, click here.

There will always be times when we have to stop.  For whatever reason, just don’t stop starting again. If you have to change what you do, do that.  Remember to start back gently and work up.  But, don’t give up!  We all want to independently be able to do the daily, necessary tasks of life as long as possible.

May you appreciate your ability to walk, stand, and if you are so lucky, to get down to the floor and back up again by yourself.

I look forward to seeing you victorious in 2016!

Namaste,

DarEll S. Hoskisson

Related posts:

Losing Myself Who Is The Winner? Stressed By ‘Yes’: How to make it work when you didn’t say ‘no.’ Wanting More- Understanding And Using What Motivates You