10. Don’t neglect your core. Your abdominals and back are the center of your body and need special attention. Try a pilates class to help you get on track.

9. Make a resolution to try 1 new fitness class every month. You may find something that you really love, and loving your exercise will make it MUCH easier to do!

8. Set goals!! Not only should you set long term goals of your final results but set short term goals that can be achieved within a month or two. Seeing results and being able to cross something off your list is very important when it comes to sticking with a program.

7. Speaking of seeing results, take note of different kinds of results – are you standing up taller because your back is getting stronger? Are you feeling less back pain? Are you finding that you are increasing the amount of weight you are using when resistance training? Are you getting more flexible?

6. Make yourself an exercise plan. If you want to lift weights 3 times a week then start with that. Only add on to your plan when you feel like you already have a habit formed. Remember that it takes 21 days to form a habit. Build one reasonable habit and then keep adding until you are satisfied with the amount of exercise you are getting.

5. Be reasonable! Don’t start a program that has you exercising 6 days a week when you haven’t been exercising at all. Start with 2-3 times a week and work up from there.

4. Take some initiate at your work place. Encourage a walking meeting instead of sit-and-eat-doughnuts meeting.

3. Know your limits! Even highly active people need breaks from working out. Listen to your body and know when you should only go 60% instead of 80% intensity in your workout. Also, if you’re doing a regular exercise regimen of 3-5 times per week, you should think about doing that for 3 weeks and then for the 4th week, only workout 2-3 times.

2. Recruit a friend for accountability – make sure you find someone who is equally as serious as you are about your goals.

1. REWARD YOURSELF!! When you achieve one of your goals, make it a momentous event! Buy yourself a new pair of jeans, get a massage, or just revel in the fact that you are making it happen!!

Some Fitness classes to try:

Yoga

Pilates

Fusion à yoga, Pilates and resistance

Abs, buns, thighs

Cardio Sculpt àcardio aerobics with weights and core

Boot Camp à includes all sorts of basic exercises that are easy to follow but very challenging

Live Well…Kristy