How to exercise at least 4 times a week
How I did it: I started because I got desperate: I was feeling depressed, was in such bad shape that I could hardly concentrate for more than 10 minutes and had terrible mood swings whether I was alone or with others. So I picked a good gym. I did not look for the cheapest one, but for the one that fits because of location/opening times/quality. The gym was so luxurious (they even give you fresh towels every time you visit) that it felt like pampering yourself every time. That gave me the extra little "guilt" that made my determination harden to actually make it work. First 2-3 weeks were a drag: I realized how out of shape I was. I stuck with it. I started visiting almost any class that fit my schedule: Step/Aerobics, Trekking, Pilates, Tae Bo, Yoga. Plus doing weights. I bought an iPod and started using it for cardio. After 2 months I started getting discouraged because I hardly felt getting any better. But I clung on with determination. So after 3 months I started feeling refreshed after those hard aerobics classes rather than run down. My friends told me that it shows on my body and face. Yay! Hard gained results. It is still an uphill effort, but I hope that in half a year from now the results will be even better. When I get doubts, I tell myself, I should keep going because I want to be able to enjoy my life, and having a healthy body is probably the most basic thing for this.
Lessons & tips: Choose a good gym. Check several factors: Is it open at times of day/week when you can attend? Is it clean and not overcrowded? Are the staff friendly? Does it have interesting courses and well maintained equipment? Is it not too far? Get an iPod or other MP3 player and a cardio-pulse measuring watch if you can afford it.
Resources: I registered at Holmes Place - an international chain - which I recommend. Bought a good gym bag for putting the clothes in (it has extra pockets for the shoes and for the socks_. Bought a cardio-watch that measures the pulse. I do not use it every time now, but it does provide extra motivation and feedback about how hard you are training, so I would say it is very helpful especially if you are in bad shape. Also, I cycle to the gym so that is extra training. I also use an iPod with earphones that provide good isolation (by Koss).
