A woman that recently emailed me inquiring about a fitness routine inspired this column. Like a lot of people, she’s finding it difficult to get into a routine, and even more so to continue enjoying it after the initial excitement wears off. I too, can relate to that feeling. Over time, however, I have learned that if you do something long enough it will become a habit. And once it’s a habit, I no longer need to dedicate much time to motivating myself to do it. Now, the amount of time will very from person to person, and maybe even activity to activity, but eventually if you stick with something long enough, it will develop into a habit, or at the least a routine.
There are a lot of instances I can point to in my life for examples. Take for instance martial arts. I have always been interested in martial arts for as long as I can remember. However, as an adult, often times more pressing matters arise that need my attention at the same time class is starting. While I may miss a class here and there, I attend regularly for the most part because it has become ingrained in me.
There are other habits I began in the last couple years that I started as an adult rather than an adolescent—like meditating. In the beginning I tried to meditate every day, and it wasn’t always easy to force myself to do it but now it is a regular part of my life. The point I’m trying to make is that anything can become a habit if you dedicate enough time to it. That may mean forcing yourself to do the activity at first, but if it’s good for you, then it’s worth it.
Sometimes a person has to look really deep to find a good enough reason to continue doing something that they dislike. With fitness, you can look at it as an investment in your future. If you have children, you can equate it to partaking in exercise for their benefit, so that you have the strength and stamina to keep up with them. Or maybe you can find the motivation in spending time with them. Exercise can be a great way to spend quality time with loved ones. It need not be limited to going to a gym, but rather anything healthy in nature. Try jogging together, surfing, or playing racquetball. There are tons of activities for the whole family as well—a family hike, volleyball game, kayaking, and whatever else you can dream up!
Sometimes you may need to dig deep, but the bottom line is if you can’t come up with a reason to stay in shape for yourself, try doing it for the ones that love you. You will probably surprise yourself and learn to like feeling fit and healthy. It actually makes you feel better about yourself! Maybe it won’t be the exercise or sport itself, but the time that you spend with the ones you love that makes it palatable for you.
Copyright © 2010 Optimum Condition. All rights reserved. Melissa Allen, CPT, BS, CES is a certified personal trainer, corrective exercise specialist and Medifast health coach, is the owner of the Optimum Condition Corrective Exercise & Performance Center, located in El Cajon, in the East County of San Diego. We specialize in customized fitness training and corrective exercise for both recreational athletes and post-rehab clients, as well as guaranteed weight loss programs or your money back. You can schedule a free consultation to help you get started. Please visit her website at OptimumCondition.org.
