“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

            The Wellness Program has provided an excellent “excuse” to start exercising and the opportunity for gym reimbursement has drawn a large percentage of this exercise to local gyms.  Whatever the mode of exercise may be, whether at the gym lifting weights, running on a treadmill, playing soccer, or going for a swim, it is important to keep a regular schedule.  Keeping up the habit of exercise will improve the quality of life and help individuals stay healthy for a long time.  Here are some tips for those who are either just starting or those trying to commit to regular activity.

Make an exercise plan

• Sit down and make a realistic plan.  It is important to start slow and work your way up as your body gets stronger.  Jumping into exercise that is too intense will lead to injury. 

Find an exercise buddy

• Exercising alone requires a lot of self-discipline.  Make it easier by finding a friend to exercise with.  A workout buddy will provide motivation and help create and maintain regular exercise.

Mix it up

• Change your exercise.  Repeating the same activities every day will become boring!  Rotate activities on a daily basis.  Run on the treadmill one day, lift weights the next, and play in a soccer game on a Saturday.  It IS important to have a schedule so you know what you’re doing, but make it an eclectic schedule.  Doing this will not only make your workouts more fun, they will help you build muscle strength and lose weight faster.

It’s not a marathon!

• Some may think that spending 3 hours at the gym every night is the only  way to get appropriate exercise.  This is not true!  Sometimes spending too long at the gym will just burn you out. Exercising for just 35 minutes can be just as beneficial-as long as the workout is intense enough!