It is difficult to avoid knowledge of the benefits of exercise. You hear everywhere about the things it does for you physically, like increasing metabolism, burning away extra calories, and toning your muscles. You also hear about the benefits it has for your mental state, such as making you happier through the release of endorphins, and relieving stress. Many people advocate for other methods of stress relief and motivation, such as self-help literature or self hypnosis audio recordings. Exercise is cheaper and more effective than either of those things.
Why is it that most people do not get enough physical activity, even though they know how good it is for them? Often, it because they don't have the motivation to begin or to stick with an exercise routine. They make excuses such as feeling tired or not wanting to go out in certain kinds of weather.
Even if exercise is tough to begin, it gets easier as you go along. The good feelings and positive changes you see as a result will be their own motivators. The biggest hurdle is starting in the first place.
In fact, that is true both in the long term and the short term. When you are just beginning to work out, or just beginning to do a particular routine, the first few weeks are the most difficult time to stay motivated and consistent. Likewise, the first few minutes of any particular workout are the hardest.
When your muscles are not accustomed to working very hard, they get used to being idle. If you increase your level of activity, they will need some time to adjust. Just as you spend the first few minutes of a session warming up, you need to spend the first few weeks of any workout program building your tolerance. Don't push yourself too hard at the beginning.
Anyone who has worked out is familiar with the feeling of sluggishness that comes at the beginning. But anyone who has worked through it also knows that it dissipates, and your energy level increases if you keep going. It doesn't mean the workout is necessarily easy, but the intensity of the difficulty lessens.
This is also true in the case of an exercise program, not just an individual workout. And it is true not only of harder workouts like running or lifting weights, but even of walking longer distances than you are accustomed to. At first, you may feel sore or extra tired the next day, and you may need to take a day or two off in between workout sessions. This is fine; just make sure you start again!
The longer you remain with your routine and get your body used to working, the more you will be able to handle. You can spend a longer time exercising, and do activities that are more strenuous. The body will grow used to the concept of working out in general, just as it grows used to each individual workout. Not only will you stop hating exercise, you will even begin to miss it when you don't do it for a few days. Your body will get restless and will miss the burst of endorphins. Get started soon, and find out how long your body needs to adjust.
Why is it that most people do not get enough physical activity, even though they know how good it is for them? Often, it because they don't have the motivation to begin or to stick with an exercise routine. They make excuses such as feeling tired or not wanting to go out in certain kinds of weather.
Even if exercise is tough to begin, it gets easier as you go along. The good feelings and positive changes you see as a result will be their own motivators. The biggest hurdle is starting in the first place.
In fact, that is true both in the long term and the short term. When you are just beginning to work out, or just beginning to do a particular routine, the first few weeks are the most difficult time to stay motivated and consistent. Likewise, the first few minutes of any particular workout are the hardest.
When your muscles are not accustomed to working very hard, they get used to being idle. If you increase your level of activity, they will need some time to adjust. Just as you spend the first few minutes of a session warming up, you need to spend the first few weeks of any workout program building your tolerance. Don't push yourself too hard at the beginning.
Anyone who has worked out is familiar with the feeling of sluggishness that comes at the beginning. But anyone who has worked through it also knows that it dissipates, and your energy level increases if you keep going. It doesn't mean the workout is necessarily easy, but the intensity of the difficulty lessens.
This is also true in the case of an exercise program, not just an individual workout. And it is true not only of harder workouts like running or lifting weights, but even of walking longer distances than you are accustomed to. At first, you may feel sore or extra tired the next day, and you may need to take a day or two off in between workout sessions. This is fine; just make sure you start again!
The longer you remain with your routine and get your body used to working, the more you will be able to handle. You can spend a longer time exercising, and do activities that are more strenuous. The body will grow used to the concept of working out in general, just as it grows used to each individual workout. Not only will you stop hating exercise, you will even begin to miss it when you don't do it for a few days. Your body will get restless and will miss the burst of endorphins. Get started soon, and find out how long your body needs to adjust.
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