Sticking with a Fitness Plan

Ask Glen!






Q. Glen, How Can I Stick To a Fitness Schedule?


A. Are you the type to set your alarm in the morning when you plan on working out, but never quite make it? Or are you the one who packs a gym bag, but are so exhausted by the end of the day that you drive right by the gym on your way home?

Do these routines sound familiar? For many of us, we go through this for a few days then we just give up altogether. If we're lucky, we were motivated enough to start a routine, but couldn't keep going with it. How do you make sure you stick with it?

The WorkOut GEM's Chief Fitness Pro, Glen Edward Mitchell makes it simple. His first suggestion is not to start off going all out. Take small steps. Placing too much pressure on yourself can be overwhelming and become a reason for failure.

There is no magical solution to making sure you get your exercise in every day. Everyone's schedule and lifestyle is different. But Glen offers five keys to assuring your success.

1. Consistency is the key. As mentioned above, start out light. Commit to two workouts per week. It doesn't seem as demanding so you won't start making excuses not to go. Two days a week adds up in a year. Plus, if you start feeling stronger and healthier, you may want to go more often anyway.

2. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to perform all your exercises at once. Break it up throughout the day if you can't find one lump sum of time to get everything in. Go for two 10 minute walks a day -- one before or after work and one at lunch. That's 20 minutes of exercise everyday that you didn't really have to think about.

3. Set your alarm earlier than you usually would to get up and go workout. There's no need to rush. Set your workout clothes next to your bed. When your alarm goes off and you wake up, get motivated by looking at your running shoes. Commit to three power walks a week.

4. Visualize what you want your body to look like. Don't take more than a minute or two, but imagine how your hard work of committing to a fitness routine will turn out. Positive thinking can be an excellent motivator.

5. Hire a personal trainer. If you're committing to a fitness routine when someone else (and money) is involved, you may think twice about making excuses not to go. Not only will you learn from the experience, but it will give you that push you needed. After you feel comfortable without a trainer, you've already established that routine of exercising so many times a week. And by then, you'll be feeling too good to stop going.

Keeping a balanced lifestyle is the main factor of a healthy life. Eating right and exercising are two main components. Committing to and following through with a regular exercise regimen will make it all the more easy to eat better and feel better.

There's no doubt motivation is hard to come by. Career, family and many other responsibilities add up and exercise is usually one of the first commitments to get the boot. But that's the worst to give up. All the stress build-up from a typical busy day needs some sort of outlet and exercise is best.

Challenge yourself. Choose a week you know you don't have too many prior obligations and workout a couple times. Really take in how much better you feel while you're exercising and when you're done. Use that as your motivation to continue pushing yourself to find the time and energy to get fit. You'll feel more energetic just after a few weeks or sooner. Trust me, you'll start looking forward to exercising. You won't feel complete in your day without it
Any personal health questions or problems mental or physical or before starting any diet or exercise program. Please consult your physician !


My mission is to provide you with "Trusted Advice for a Healthier Life."


Yours in good health
Any questions?


Ask Glen!