http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.pngThe odds are that many of you have begun an exercise routine recently. Whether the reason was a New Year’s resolution or just getting back to school and getting back into the swing of things, you and thousands of other people at EMU have attempted to be more proactive about their health and fitness. I love it! This is a great time of year to get motivated and improve yourself no matter what your fitness goals may be. Here are some tips that will help you maintain this focus and develop a routine that you can stick with.
· Evaluate and write down your goals: You can’t meet your goals if you haven’t first identified what it is you’re trying to accomplish. Be reasonable and break down your goals into short-term and long-term goals. Also, writing these goals down and posting them somewhere you can see them on a daily basis will increase the likelihood of you accomplishing the tasks. Ask yourself: “Have I done something today that is going to get me closer to my goals?”
· Develop an interval program: Use a combination of strength training & cardio exercises to see quicker results. Not many people have the time to spend hours and hours in the gym, so make the most of your time. Perform short, but intense intervals of cardio (jumping jacks, jump rope, treadmill, elliptical, etc.) in between the sets of your strength training exercises. This is a great way to make a 30-minute workout as effective as a one-hour lower-intensity workout.
· Make your workouts progressive: Don’t stay too stagnant with your exercise routine. It’s OK to develop a regular routine but don’t be afraid to switch it up every once in a while. Whether it is just a switch in the order that you perform the exercises or you change up the whole program – keep your body guessing. This also will help to eliminate the boring grind of repeating the same things day after day. Our bodies are designed to adjust and adapt to make things easier for us, so by changing it up you will get more results.
· Find a FUN way to work out: One idea is to try to find a workout buddy you can play racquetball or basketball with. Another choice is to join one of the Rec/IM’s group exercise classes. Group classes are a great way to have fun and work hard at the same time. Even if you don’t involve other people, try to use good music to make your workouts a little more fun. The most important thing that you can do to stay motivated is to transform your workouts from WORK to PLAY.http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.png
