If you have already dropped your New Year's resolution to exercise more frequently, you are not alone.
According to a MarketWatch report, we can statistically predict that one-third of people who made a workout resolution have already abandoned their goals. That's only one month into the new year!
Why do we abandon our ambitious goals so quickly?
Here are some hints. It's not because we're lazy. It's not because we're quitters. Nor is it because we lack dedication.
Health and science writer Carolyn Gregoire of The Huffington Post interviewed diet expert Dr. Roberta Anding, who says that the main reason people don't stick to resolutions is because they have set unrealistic goals.
Anding says it is necessary to take moderate, incremental steps toward losing that weight, eating healthier foods or exercising more.
We have to know our bodies and be realistic about what we are capable of. Maybe it's OK to start off working out once a week instead of five times a week. Or maybe performing calming movements or light cardio exercises is preferable to heavy weight lifting or jogging two miles.
Ray Williams of Psychology Today has written that our habits become wired into our brain and are not easily undone. "Rewiring" takes more than just saying, "On this day, January 1, I will completely change my habitual behavior."
Instead, it is wiser to come to terms with your human weakness and allow yourself some wiggle room from the get-go. Changing habits is a long-term journey that must be accomplished through many small successes rather than one all-out performance.
With these general tips in mind, you can reclaim your New Year's exercise resolution by practicing these tips:
- Workout at home to start off with, as opposed to committing to the gym. MarketWatch reported that 67 percent of gym membership holders don't even end up going to the gym. It's hard to exercise in itself, much less traveling somewhere else to do it. Our at-home exercise accessories can help you develop a convenient home exercise routine.
- Commit to small, 5-minute sessions. Overextending your muscles and joints with long routines is not something you will be able to keep up with long-term.
- Make exercising enjoyable. Instead of staring at the wall while you run on a treadmill, try watching TV, listening to music or taking walks in the park. Take back your time for recreation.
- Think of it as a ritual. Maybe instead of dwelling on finishing your stated goal, you should concentrate of doing it. Living in the present moment and making exercise just another part of your day or week can do wonders for these kinds of long-term resolutions.
So don't be discouraged. The year is still young. Just tweak your plans a little bit, be flexible and remember that every single success, no matter how small it seems, counts for quite a bit.
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