Health Informative Council

We all know there are many reasons why we should exercise: to feel better, to get our youthful stamina back, to lower cholesterol, straighten our heart, muscles and bones and to combat stress and depression.

During strenuous exercise our brain increases the production of serotonin which in turn elevates our mood and helps us stave off hunger and make us lose weight. But how to get yourself motivated to exercise and stick with it?

The first point is to be realistic. Set up goals that are within reach. Do not start with exercising hard and for a long time the first time around. That will only cause pain and discomfort and you will try to avoid it the next time.
Keep a journal of your activity. Writing your progress down will encourage you to keep up because you will see and feel the difference in your appearance and endurance.

Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t change your body immediately and for crying out loud, don’t give up. Even if you skipped a few days due to overload at work or at home, or due to an illness, pick yourself up and continue. It is not an all or nothing approach.
When you go to the gym and see all those perfectly toned bodies, don’t compare yourself to them. Some people have turned fitness and exercise into their life mission and main occupation. Let people do what they want as long as you know what is your objective (Just to remind you – to stay healthy…)

Try to have fun. Find an exercise regimen that you really enjoy. That will help you keep it up.
Break your exercises down to short sessions if you can’t do it all at once. Walk to lunch when you can, climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator or join a team sport.

Make it easier on yourself. If you are too tired at the end of the day to go to the gym, exercise at home in front of the TV. Sitting on the couch is not considered exercise. You can watch the news while doing sit ups.

Don’t let what happened in the past ruin your present. Even if you hated gym in school, tried to exercise and hurt yourself or got discouraged, try again. If you make it easy and fun you will do it longer.

And the last thing? Pat yourself on the back when you have done it. Feel that you achieved something that is very important to you and will make you live longer and healthier life.