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Body Wise*
Angelina Valesco, owner of Blissful Energy Yoga Center in Tigard, OR, has been a certified yoga and Pilates instructor for over five years and has practiced yoga for over twelve years.
503-970-7373
www.blissfulenergy.com
*The
information contained herein is not intended to diagnose or treat ANY
medical condition. |
Beginning Your Fitness Walking Plan
By Angelina Valesco
You have decided to lose weight and get fit. You circled Monday on your calendar. The first day of your new walking program! Walking in the early morning before you need to get ready for work is such a great idea. Sunday night you dig out your sneakers and find a pair of matching socks. Rummaging through your dresser drawers, you find a sports bra that still fits. You are set.
The sound of the alarm jolts you awake. During the night, you burrowed into the covers and have managed to keep your favorite pillow under your head the whole night. The early morning light is slowly taking over the darkness in your room. On your chair across the room, you see the sports bra and socks. Yikes! This was the first day of your new walking program.
You get up and gaze outside to see the light rain falling in the backyard. Darn it! You can’t start today — walking in the rain is not a good idea since you have a meeting later in the week and can’t risk being sick. Oh, well. You have 30 minutes before you need to get in the shower and get ready for work. As you crawl back in bed, you glimpse over and see the sports bra taunting you. Well, since Monday is the day that you should start your program, you will have to hope for better weather next Monday.
Does that sound like I have peeked into your life? Well, I haven’t. I have just been in your walking sneakers and know how it feels. Starting a new fitness program can be so difficult.
There are three things that you can do to make sure your plan becomes a wonderful new habit as you stride towards a healthier way of life.
1.
Start Now!
I mean NOW! Getting started is the hardest part of establishing a new fitness plan. Even if you are only able to walk a few minutes after reading this article, get up and do it. The first time is truly the hardest; the second time is hard, but familiar. The biggest mistake people make is when they put off getting started. “I’m going to start on Monday.” “The first day of the month will be a great time to start my new walking program.” These are all common "deals" we make with ourselves as we procrastinate beginning our new fitness program.
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2.
30 Days Makes a Habit, 28 Days Makes a February.
Don’t take a day off. Walk every day for 30 days. Walk rain or shine. Give your body and mind a chance to get used to the feeling of exercising. After the first 30 days, you will want to continue and will have been successful in incorporating exercise into your life. By walking at the same time every day, you are even closer to establishing a great new habit.
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3
A Gold Star For You — Tracking Your Progress.
It is helpful if you can create a chart or write your accomplishments on your calendar. In the beginning, just track that you completed your daily walk. A star or a smiley face can go a long way towards boosting your sense of accomplishment when you see them line up each day on your calendar.
There are so many reasons for us to give up on our plan before we can create better habits, establish the routine and make the shift to "want" to do it. By following these three guidelines as you begin your walking program, you have taken the first few steps toward making your plan become a new walk of life. |
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