The Nurturing Well by: Jill Starbuck
Have you ever tried an exercise program only to be discouraged by the results? You gave it everything you had, but you either didn’t lose weight or you didn’t build muscle or tone to the extent that you had hoped. Chances are that you may not have given it enough time. For most of us, we want a quick fix. Starting a new exercise program is just plain hard, especially if we weren’t avid exercisers to begin with. According to Harris Interactive, almost two-thirds of adults set out to reach a fitness goal with their New Year’s resolutions. However, nearly 75% of them give up before they meet their goal.
Most often cited excuses include that the program is too hard to follow, that there isn’t enough time, that the program is boring, that results didn’t appear as marketed, and that getting back on track after falling off is too hard. It seems that these excuses aren’t just for those who try a new program, they seem to pertain to most people in general. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 80% of the population does not get the weekly recommended amount of exercise.
One of the problems that stems from lack of commitment in an exercise program is the reason for starting it in the first place. Oftentimes people want to start a program because they have a big event coming up such as a class reunion or a wedding. They focus on how they look rather than how they feel. Therefore, their goal is to find a quick fix rather than to commit to a change in lifestyle.
Exercise requires commitment—a way of life. While many people have good intentions, they often let exercise slip when other life events get in the way. They treat it as something they can do when it’s convenient, rather than making it an essential aspect of their lives. Therefore, it becomes hard to maintain a routine.
Besides the failure to make exercise an essential aspect, other issues arise that result in a failed attempt. For instance, some people start too aggressively, only to burn out quickly. Progress should happen slowly for the best results to maintain a long-lasting routine. Still others see results immediately, but then fail to see any improvements down the line. In most of these cases, it’s because their bodies have adapted to an exercise routine. If we do the same thing over and over, we stop seeing results. While it may be healthy to walk daily for our hearts and to maintain an ideal weight, our bodies begin to expect the same thing and therefore adapt. In order to continue to see improvements, we must continue to challenge ourselves after a period of time. Once we get stuck in a rut, it’s time to change the routine. This means if you typically walk at a certain pace, you may need to pick up that pace. Or perhaps you could add hills to your walk. For others, they may commit to exercise and even change it up after a period of time, but they jeopardize their efforts with bad eating habits.
Remember that it takes times to see results. For some people, it can take up to nearly two months before they see the results of their efforts. So stick with it. Before you know it, others will begin to see changes in you and you will notice a big difference yourself. While seeking a certain appearance can provide motivation, it is most important to remember that exercise is valuable for so many other reasons.
Jill Starbuck has 20 years of experience as a business writer, editor, and market research analyst. She is a certified health coach through the Integrative Institute of Nutrition and a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She is also the co-owner of a running business. She can be reached at jillstarbuck@hotmail.com.
