blondie24x7's Journal, 17 June 2008

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For an attractive face, speak words of kindness. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. ~Audrey Hepburn~ It doesn’t feel good: End your workout with a 5-minute cool down to ease your way out of the activity. Britton W. Brewer, PhD, of Springfield College in Massachusetts says, “People’s last impression of exercise is the one that lingers,” he says. “With a cool-down, you leave feeling the exercise was easier, so you’re more likely to do it again.” I’ll look silly: You’re not trying to impress anybody, so stop worrying about looking perfect. “Women put such pressure on themselves,” says Carol Gallagher, PhD, author of Going to the Top (Penguin, 2001). “Learning to feel okay with and laugh at little mistakes is good for you.” Exercise like nobody’s watching! Enjoy yourself and the fact that you’re being good to your body. I don’t have time: Look at things differently, rather than in all-or-nothing terms. Your workout doesn’t have to be 45 minutes of high-cardio every time. A short 10-minute walk is better than nothing. Choose activities you really enjoy—we all tend to make time in our lives for things we find fun. Squeeze in some exercise while you watch your favorite TV program. Everything counts. I’m not getting results: Aerobics, swimming and pole walking are examples of activities that work your whole body at the same time. Incorporate those kinds of exercises into your fitness plan. You’ll burn more calories without having to add minutes and more activities into each session. In one study, women who did step aerobics that used their arms and legs at the same time felt it was easier than cycling or walking, though their workouts were the same intensity as the others. Lisa Lloyd, PhD, of Southwest Texas State University says, “Coordinating your arm/leg movements can keep your mind busy, so you’re less likely to focus on the exertion.” I’ve tried it before: “You achieve what you focus on,” explains Dr. Gallagher. Don’t concentrate on the times you didn’t exercise, instead think of the times you did. You didn’t miss 2 workouts last week—you managed to get 3 in! This positive outlook is empowering, and gives you a sense of success. YAY!! motivational tips. so useful! i got them off...