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Exercise: Staying Motivated
Exercise: Staying MotivatedPg 1TranscriptIn the first few days and weeks of beginning an exercise routine, you begin to notice the healthbenefits and just feel great. But as the weeks progress, you may start to feel your motivationslipping.For many different reasons it may be difficult to keep exercise part of your daily routine. Butexercise is for life. You won’t see long-term results if you give up. So it is key to stay motivated.First, take a look at your goals. Are they realistic and achievable? Or do they make you feelfrustrated and overwhelmed? If you feel like you are not reaching your goals, it may be time to reevaluate and change your plan. It’s ok to make changes to your goals; especially if it helps youachieve them. But remember, even small victories are reason to feel good about yourself.Next, are you having fun? It’s important to choose an activity you enjoy because the more youenjoy it; the easier it will be to make it a routine.Try listening to music or books on tape, or watching your favorite TV show while you exercise.Maybe it’s time to change where you exercise. If you usually walk on the treadmill, try walking inyour neighborhood. Who knows? You may even walk a little further without realizing it.Or maybe you need to change it up a bit. You wouldn’t want to eat the same meal for dinner everynight. Why would you want to do the same workout every day? Try introducing new types ofexercise into your routine to beat the boredom.Invite a friend or family member to exercise with you to encourage each other.“I have a friend Larry. He has a Fitbit. And he sent me an email one day saying, ‘let’s havea challenge: how many steps we can do in a week.’ So I kind of increased my steps.”The support from family and friends is great! But if you are still having a hard time, you may wantto meet with a personal trainer or your healthcare provider. They can suggest ways to make yourwork-out less like work and more like fun.Many people find it helpful to keep a log. You can keep a log on your computer, tablet or notepad.Keep track of when you were active, what you did, for how long, and how you felt afterward. Thislog will help you see your progress. And when you see how far you’ve come, you’ll want to keepgoing.Fitness trackers are also a great way to keep track of your successes. Many can send you alertswhen you meet a personal goal, an excellent way to stay motivated.“It’s wonderful when it, when I get to 10,000 steps and it vibrates on my arm. It’s likecelebration time.”When you do reach a goal, reward yourself. Give yourself a healthy reward, like a new book ornew running shoes.This program is for informational purposes only; for all health related issues please contact your healthcareprovider. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this videofor medical decision making. gn_10219_98 ©Milner-Fenwick, Inc.Exercise: Staying MotivatedPg 2And finally, be flexible. If you do miss your exercise session for any reason, don’t think of it as afailure. Sometimes life does get in the way. Just get back to working out as soon as you can.Exercise is good for you. But staying motivated can be difficult. Remember to: Take a look at yourgoals and make a change if you need to; make exercise fun; find support; track your activity;reward yourself; and be flexible. You are doing great things for your body and your health. Keep itup!This program is for informational purposes only; for all health related issues please contact your healthcareprovider. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this videofor medical decision making. gn_10219_98 ©Milner-Fenwick, Inc.
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Learn several strategies you can use to increase your level of activity and discover which types of exercise are most enjoyable for you.
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