Plan an Exercise Program That You Can Live With

Planning an exercise program isn’t so hard. Beginning an exercise program is not too bad. But trying to stick with one and develop it into your lifestyle is very difficult for many people. The challenge is to make it fun, keep it fun and adopt it as part of your life. Here are some exercise tips to keep you going.

• Choose something you like to do. Make sure it suits your physical condition such as swimming, which is easier on arthritic pain.
• Look at past exercise efforts that did not work and change them. If you didn’t enjoy it before, you might not now.
• Find a partner. Exercising with someone else will make it more enjoyable and give you the extra encouragement to continue doing it.
• Vary your routine. You will be more likely to remain excited about exercising or prevent injury if you vary your routine. One day you may choose to walk and then bicycle the next day. Consider activities such as dancing and racquet sports or even chores such as chopping wood.
• Select a comfortable time of day. Don’t work out too soon after eating or when it’s too hot or cold. Consider your personal abilities and preferences. For example, wait until later in the day if you are too stiff in the morning. Exercise in the morning if you know you will get too busy later in the day.
• Exercise on the same days and at the same times each week.
• Do not get discouraged. It can take weeks or months before you notice some of the changes from exercise.
• Make exercise a part of your daily life. Take the stairs, park in the back of the parking lot or walk to the school or bus stop to pick up your kids.
• Forget “no pain, no gain.” While a little soreness is normal after you first start exercising, pain is not. Stop if you hurt.
• Do not treat exercise as a chore or afterthought. Tell yourself it is your “me” time and enjoy it! By choosing things you like to do, you will find yourself looking forward to your exercise time and more easily adopt it into your lifestyle.
• Set small, attainable goals. Say that you will spend 15 minutes three days this week walking after dinner. Next week, spend 20 minutes or 15 minutes four days a week.
• Reward yourself for your achievements. Do not reward with food, instead take yourself to a movie or buy some new shoes.
• Make exercise fun. Read, listen to music or watch TV while riding a stationary bicycle, for example. Find fun things to do such as taking a walk through the zoo, dancing, play tennis or hike in the woods.

You should always talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.

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