Investing in Your Future through Exercise!

Today, I walked into MedX and one of my members told me about a statement that he read in the latest addition of AARP magazine (American Association of Retired Persons). The statement was “The greatest investment you can make for your future is in your health… to exercise!” Needless to say, I agree whole-heartedly and that statement is not only recommended for those individuals who receive AARP magazine, but for all individuals of all ages. There’s no question that investing in your future begins with investing in your health and exercise is the cheapest and most influential way to do it. With that being said and with New Year resolutions well into gear, I’m pulling from a top twenty list that I found a few months ago on the internet and modifying a few of the strategies that I too have found will help us “stick to our workouts” this new year.

Sign up for a competition or a race of some kind. I know of a group of ladies who started a couple of years ago training for the Boulder Bolder. Knowing and seeing the results of the ladies who trained with this race as a goal in mind, I realized the huge motivational factor it became for them to sticking to their training and exercise over all. Once they saw the results of what their training did to their confidence and bodies, many of them have continued exercising and are planning on doing the event again this year.

Make a friendly bet. Just like the “Power of Ten” I started last October. The “Power of Ten” was a friendly bet with the members of MedX to challenge them to lose and/or maintain their body weight during the most difficult months of the year. Bets don’t need to include paying money, but they should be legitimately made with a friend or co-worker that will hold you to it. It’s also helpful to make sure there is a reward at the end of the bet that’s worth “sticking to it” for.

Tie exercise to your health. One of our most favorite members, who happens to be a very long-time Estes Park citizen, gave me a copy of her book that she and her sisters wrote about hiking up Longs Peak in the early 1900’s with her family. On the inside cover of the book, she wrote a quote that her father used to always say while she was growing up, (he happened to be an early physician in the area) and the quote said “Exercise is a part of diet and health!” Even today, you must include exercise as part of your health care, just like we think of yearly physical checkups and health screenings.

Switch or find yourself a workout partner. It’s been an interesting year for me and my personal workouts. If you remember, in November 2006 I started a serious strength training routine with a certain set of friends and it was great. Guess what? Today, my workout group is completely different. Fortunately and unfortunately my training partners have changed out of necessity. The original group of ladies ended up having various issues that took them away from training with me, so I switched it up and invited new victims (teasing) to help me continue with the success that I’ve found through my strength training program.

Plan your workouts in advance. The biggest excuse that everyone has about not exercising is because they don’t have the time. You don’t have time for your health? That’s insane! If you plan your day and plan your week and make your schedule known to all the members of your family that count, I’ll bet you’ll find the time to exercise.

Don’t do what you hate. Life is too short to do things you hate to do. There is enough variety within exercise and movement that you’re sure to find something that will help you move more and feel better. Keep your mind open and make it happen.

Lastly, here’s one that I never really thought about. See yourself and your health habits through someone else’s eyes! Hmmm, this strategy kind of fascinates me. I know I’ve thought about it on a number of levels. You know; how do these jeans look? Do they make my thighs look too big? Ooh, will someone see me eating these french fries? Well, if it makes you not eat something or encourages you do something better because someone else just might see it, then I think this strategy is a good one too. Particularly if it puts you in the driver’s seat of representing good and healthy habits!

Remember, role modeling is the best strategy and the best way to influence those you love into also sticking to their healthy lifestyle!

 

Deborah Holmes

January 15, 2008