Don't Give It Up! How To Keep Exercising

Step 1: Put It In Your Diary

Exercise is good for your health, makes you feel and look great and is a very valuable use of your time. You should therefore treat the time spent exercising in the same way you would any important social or work engagement and put it in your diary. Once you have written it down it will be a constant reminder to you of your intention to do regular exercise. Do this on a Sunday evening, that way if anything else crops up during the week it will have to fit it in around your fitness plans. Be prepared for any change in circumstances like house guests or bad weather, nothing should keep you from your workouts. Have an exercise DVD on the shelf, that way even severe weather can't stop you. Once you have given training priority it will soon become part of your everyday life and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Step 2: Your Weekly Routine

Now exercise is in the diary it becomes as much a part of your life as brushing your teeth or catching up on the latest edition of “Freshwater Fishing”. But don't be fooled exercise is a cunning beast and believe it or not there will still be times when you're really not that fussed. So work to prevent this predictable onset of apathy. Get everything you need to exercise ready the night before, this way you will gain a sense of anticipation and look forward to it. It will also be easier to resist the temptation to give it a miss if all you have to do is pick up a bag and walk out the door.

Step 3: Set Attainable Goals

You have to be realistic, don't set out “to lose six stone” or fit into this “tiny top” by Wednesday, as this way you're setting yourself up to fail. You will end up feeling demoralised and frustrated and this will turn you off exercise. Instead go for something attainable like, “my goal is to take more steps this week during my lunch time power walk”. A lot of people will set a goal by date, like trying to get fit in time for a friends wedding or a holiday. All this does is add unnecessary pressure to something that, at times, can be hard going. Remember exercise is a long term commitment, so be flexible and have smaller goals. Understand that there will be times when you don't show rapid progress, but that you are still benefiting from your activities. Each time your reach one of your goals, give yourself a reward.

Step 4: Get Friends and Family Involved

Tell your friends and family about your plans to keep on exercising regularly and that you would really appreciate it if they showed an interest. Their encouragement is really important, as it could be the extra push you need to get you out the door when it's cold and wet. You never know you could recruit some exercise buddies along the way. Ultimately however, it is your responsibility, but it's great to have support.

Step 5: Perseverance

It is going to be hard especially if you haven't enjoyed exercise in the past. On the days when you really don't want to do it, if it's in your diary, part of your routine and you've got goals to achieve, this will remind you to go and you'll feel great afterwards. Remember the more physically active you are the easier it will be to do more and keep training. Now that you're in the zone keep training, work harder and don't give up!