Exercise is the best way to lose weight permanently, but few people use it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 16% of Americans engaged in regular exercise on an average day in recent years. Most people trying to lose weight use diet as the main method to achieve weight loss rather than exercise. Yet, it's a well-known fact that most people that keep the weight off after years of having lost it are those that exercise regularly.
Why People Have a Negative Attitude About Exercise
There are logical reasons why many people have negative feelings at the thought of exercising.
- When people start exercising they tend to do too much, too fast. This creates an association with exercise as painful and uncomfortable.
- Many people try to do exercises based on what is fashionable or what they think they should be doing, rather than activities that they like. If a person doesn't like the exercise he is using, he will quickly quit and exercise becomes associated with something negative.
- The more sedentary a person is, the less energy he will have. The sedentary person has a hard time getting going. The mere thought of exercise feels unpleasant.
- The less fit someone is, the more difficult exercise feels initially. If the person is expecting himself to exercise at the level of someone who is already more active he will become frustrated. These expectations and feelings can keep a person from starting to exercise.
- Social factors can come into play with some people. They can feel exposed trying to exercise in gyms and other public areas. Feelings of self-consciousness can make them think of exercise as something negative.
Getting Rid of the Negativity Towards Exercise
Since exercise is the most fat-burning way to lose weight, how can someone overcome the negativity about exercise?
Here are some tips:
- Start where you are. Make your experience with exercise a positive one from the beginning. Start slowly and take small steps. Forget about what anyone else is doing. Instead, focus on improving your own performance step-by-step. For example, you might start walking down the street in the evening when it's not as hot. Make the distance or time goal one that is achievable comfortably. Once you can perform the same task without a problem, go a little further or a little faster until you can accomplish that goal comfortably, too. Continue in this fashion.
- Do what you like. Look for activities that you find pleasurable instead of ones that you feel are expected or are what everyone else is doing. Make exercise fun.
- Think "Movement" instead of "Exercise." By replacing the word "exercise" with "movement," you're not only getting away from a word that is paired with negative thoughts, but you're also reminding yourself that you can be more active throughout your day - not just when you're engaging in formal exercise sessions.
- Listen to your body.Strive to breath deeply but not so hard that you can't comfortably have a discussion with someone else at the same time. As you continue to build on your exercise you will find that you can do more while breathing comfortably.
- Reward yourself. Praise yourself for your efforts no matter how small.
- Make it a priority. Making exercise a lifetime change requires an attitude that it's a priority in your life and that you have an important appointment that can't be changed easily. Just say, "Sorry, I have a commitment at that time."
Learning to feel good about exercise is important - it's the best fat burning tool available.
Lavinia Rodriguez - Lavinia Rodriguez, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years experience helping people with food and eating problems, and eating ...
