The question is, "HOW DO I START when I hate exercising?"
This was my biggest question before.
I hated wearing
rubber shoes (or any type of closed shoes)
I hated exposing
myself under the sun
I hated the feeling of
sweat trickling down my forehead.
The thought of sweaty
clothes is just… YUCK!
That was me before I started running. I lived a sedentary
lifestyle, PERIOD.
Everything changed
when I just woke up one day, wore my old pair of sneakers and ran
around the village basketball court and almost passed out!
(Read my story in Good Housekeeping Philippines Magazine June 2015 issue, to know more about it- See end of this blog entry for full story)
HERE ARE SIX TIPS (I hope could help you start a healthy habit):
1. START WITH BABY STEPS AND BE CONSISTENT
Photo from Pinterest |
A big goal is definitely exciting. But realistically, can you sustain it?
If you start with being too aggressive, chances are, you won’t be able to stick with it. We are trying to create a life-long healthy habit. Start with small goals then work your way up to larger goals. If you have zero exercise, why not try to start with something really small, like – taking a flight of stairs each day or go walking twice or thrice a week for 15 minutes. If you get bored with this, try walking and “light running / jogging” in between your walks. You can also try listening to your favorite fast song and dance to the music (it's not just exercise, it's also a good way to unwind - especially if it's an old track that brings back good memories).
It’s better to do something once or twice a week, than starting an exercise routine everyday then slide back once you get sick, or your schedule at work suddenly doesn’t permit you to exercise daily.
It’s better to do something once or twice a week, than starting an exercise routine everyday then slide back once you get sick, or your schedule at work suddenly doesn’t permit you to exercise daily.
Remember, THE KEY IS CONSISTENCY.
Why? If you want to lose weight then face
it. How else would you know if you are gaining or losing weight if you don’t
step on the scale?
Make it a habit to weigh yourself
regularly. I mean, once, twice or even
thrice a day. It will only take a few
seconds anyway. The frequency of weigh-ins make all the difference. Personally, I think weighing yourself twice a
day is best (one in the morning and one before going to bed).
3. CHOOSE WHAT YOU EAT
Photo courtesy of mealplanningyourway.com |
Healthy
eating doesn’t mean you have to follow “strict dietary restrictions” or
depriving yourself from the food you love.
It’s about eating in moderation and proper portions. It’s always
best to prepare your own meals but when you eat out, since serving sizes in
restaurants vary – try sharing with a
friend or choose a starter instead of an entrée.
Of course, adding more fruits and
vegetables to your diet is best since they are low in calories and are enriched
with vitamins and minerals.
If you have certain food cravings, I
suggest you give in to them, but eat in moderation. Instead of depriving yourself from that
lechon kawali or that sinful chocolate cake, why not have a small bite. For instance, my greatest weakness is…
Cheetos! I LOVE Cheetos… (writing this
blog alone made me feel like munching on a whole bag). What did I do? I opened
the bag and got a few sticks… Alright, I ate 15 sticks of Cheetos J
TIP: Never skip breakfast – It is
definitely the most important meal of the day. A healthy breakfast jumpstarts
your metabolism.
4. DRINK LOTS OF WATER
Photo courtesy of motiveweight.tumbler.com |
Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
Yes, we’ve heard it. We know that water is good for the body. There are times when we think we are hungry, but it's just because we're thirsty. If we are dehydrated, our body feels tired and it thinks we need food for energy. So when we are adequately hydrated,we tend to eat less.
Drinking AT LEAST eight glasses of water really does wonders.
Here are just some of its benefits:
Relieves
fatigue, improves mood, helps in digestion, flushes out toxins, helps energize
muscles.
I just love water! I always bring a thermos with
me wherever I go.
We all love taking selfies (whether you
admit it or not). Taking selfies in your bathroom mirror doesn’t mean you have
to post them on FB or IG. Take lots of “personal consumption” selfies
to track your progress. Through selfies
and the weighing scale, you’ll see whether you need to improve on the amount of
exercise / be more conscious with your diet, or perhaps be amazed to see the positive
changes in your body.
6. START TODAY
(Yes, not tomorrow, not next week... TODAY!)
(Yes, not tomorrow, not next week... TODAY!)
Photo courtesy of timemanagementninja.com |
The first step is always the hardest.
Photo from pinterest |
BONUS: Check out my simple core exercise (STANDING AB WORKOUT) at the bottom of the page, to get you started.
Here’s my story in Good Housekeeping Philippines last June 2015
Good Housekeeping Philippines June 2015 Issue Photo courtesy of @ghphils Instagram account |
Here’s a simple core exercise that
could be a start - THE STANDING AB WORKOUT
Stand with your feet apart and keep your hands at your side (Please excuse our dog "Nimbus" behind me, he loves to walk around me when I'm exercising) |
Reach for the side of your knee
Do three (3) sets of ten (10) reps on each side.
Since this is your first time, don't overdo it!
It's always better to start small and be consistent. Then gradually increase the number of reps depending on how far your body needs to go…
Remember to ENGAGE YOUR CORE when you're doing this simple ab workout |
Catch you later!