make exercise a habit

I started using DVDs for exercising at home. I’m trying this approach to making exercise a habit! :-)

I should do an analysis of what challenges I face in making exercise a habit.

Challenges
-being tired;
-feeling like I don’t have enough time in the day to exercise (more important things to do like taking care of baby, making dinner);
-not motivated;
-not knowing the types of exercises to do;
-getting bored with exercises (too repetitive);
-not seeing results;
-being overly ambitious one day, and then too sore or tired the next day to do any exercise;
-finding excuses not to workout;
-not having the proper equipment to do exercises safely;
-not enough space to workout comfortable (at home).

What can I do to improve the situation?
(Three things for the next 30 days)...

1. Schedule exercise time (do it first thing in the morning so that I can get it out of the way);

2. Go to bed earlier, ask for help, only do the important things that I need to get done during the day (let the things that can wait—wait until later) and take a nap during the afternoon (help feel rested);

3.Create a space for working out (exercise equipment, music, motivational images/ quotes, etc.)

These are the 3 things that I’ll work on for the next 30 days!

(Schedule, Rest, Space)

I’m trying to increase my activity level. Walking whenever possible, doing cardio workouts in my living room, playing with my baby, just moving around more throughout the day.

It was such a nice route that the hour went by quickly. My legs feel like they got a workout.

It was starting to become a habit, but tonight I’m going to take a night off from my evening walk.

Reasons for not walking:

I did a lot this week, and I don’t want to overdo it. I walked over 5 km on Wednesday, carrying baby in a mei tai. I also got blisters last night from breaking in my shoes, and tonight the baby is too tired to go out again.

A year later, I’ve come to the realization that exercise has never really been a habit for me so I’m going to have to work extra hard to make it a habit.

I guess that if things are good habits, that if you stop doing them for a while, and try to resume it doesn’t take as much effort, energy, or time than if you never had it as a habit to begin.

Yipee!

I have the treadmill put together, and indoor shoes for the treadmill…

now if I could only muster up enough energy to do a decent workout. Must get some sleep!

Next week, I’m getting a treadmill delievered to my home! I’m sooooo excited! This means that I’ll be able to workout whenever I want!

I already have a stability ball, and a couple of DVDs. I think that I’ll probably get some hand weights too.

This is the beginning of my effort to make exercise a habit.

I found ONE activity that I LOVE doing! Step-class is a great aerobic workout, and can be adapted to suit any physical level. I have built up enough cardio strength to be able to add a step to my bench, which was really exciting! I was able to do the whole workout with this step too, and the instructor goes at a fast pace.

I’d like to find 2 other activities that I LOVE doing.

I hope to maintain this momentum! I think that I’ll just keep making myself go as many times as I can this week so that it starts to feel like a habit. I know that I’m supposed to take at least a day off from exercising, but I’m afraid that if I do then I’ll be back to square one. Moreover, my exercising isn’t that intense that I’d need a day off. I could do a light exercise on that 7th day.