The Exercise Bit
Exercise, the good thing about exercise is that you don’t have to get to medal standards or win silver cups. It’s not about being picked for teams or to run marathons. You don’t have to be good at it but just actually get your butt out there and do something. A lot of people turn to exercise secondly preferring to just diet. The reason being that exercise actually means you have to move and take action. A diet is avoiding the need to move and do something. It has been proved that those who exercise win at body success in the long run because.
- Exercisers have leaner bodies than those who only diet as muscle takes up a third of the space of fat.
- Have more self esteem and confidence because their bodies feel stronger.
- Keep weight off longer than dieting alone.
- Feel more positive.
- Feel great in general as exercise releases feel-good endorphins.
- Are healthier as on average the risk of having a heart attack is reduced by about a third in people who exercise.
So how do you transform form coach potato to exerciser?
Find your motivation – the real key to successful exercising is to find a sport or activity that suits you and inspires you. It doesn’t just have to be running on a tred mill in a gym. Do you want to learn to run, dance, try martial arts, yoga or swim? All of those are exercise but in different forms.
Make it a habit – studies have shown that it takes three to four weeks to create a habit. That’s only a month. Pick three days a week and every week at the same time on those days do your exercise of choice. Just for a whole month don’t budge on it and get the habit.
When the going gets tough, just keep going. – Life doest always run smoothly and there might be set backs when you’re unwell, injured or have work commitments. But it is essential to get back into your exercise as soon as you can. Keep reminding yourself of your goal; rope in friends for some support on the tough days. Pay for classes in advance, which alone can motivate you to keep going.
Make activity part of your life – you should see exercise as part of your life for life, not something you’re doing to get a life. Exercise can be enjoyed and not just a vision of sweat. Walk across the office instead of emailing, walk those stairs instead of getting the lift. Borrow a dog or just take yourself for a walk and enjoy the views.
Most importantly – get out there and do something.
Arghhhh
I love this site, but I hate the way
‘Do exercise’ is just dropped in here.
I am, of course, a single parent. I work full time. My son is at school.
When do I do this exercise?
Before work? Yes, of course cos my 4 year old can get himself up and dressed whilst I go for a run!
Lunchtime? yeah right, who gets a lunch break these days?
Aftework? Err, no cos thats when I will be picking my worn out little boy up, making dinner, doing bath time etc etc
In the evening? Yeah sure. I will just ask my partner to watch him… Ooops! Silly me!
Sorry, but this is just too annoying. This site is intelligent and reflects our lives, but this just looks like a copy & paste from a beauty magazine
You are right its not one of the better articles. But I do think diet, fitness, exercise and all that stuff are things we still as single mums worry about. So ok , lets get this section redone with all the single mums point of views and ideas. I will collate everyones suggestions and get this whole section redone. Please email me with your ideas of how single mums really manage to exercise, diet and find the time to get a smear of foundation into their busy schedules. ( for any of those who like me cant remember what foundation is let alone mascara, its the stuff in your makeup bag thats probably covered in dust that you use to put on your face )
I whole heartedly agree with Jules (25 Nov 09). I have a 4-year old daughter. I can’t exercise in the morning before work, I then drop her off at nursery and go straight to work, leave and (the only exercise I get) speedily walk the 1.5 miles to my car, drive to collect her, get home cook tea, bath & then bed. I can’t nip out for a run (wouldn’t do on dark evenings even if I could) or join a dance class. Yes I’ve done the doing weights thing in my lounge and even tried a few fitness dvd’s but can’t have the sound up as my daughter wakes up. Unless someone invents time travel, I’m at a loss to know when single parents “do exercise” – any ideas?
I agree to and I am busy writing something on it. Hope to post in the New Year some ideas as I need them too now my jeans wont do up.