Getting
Started with an Exercise Program
: The New Lover Approach
By Kathryn Martyn, M.NLP
How many times have you decided
to get back to some type of
exercise program? You've bought
gear, new shoes, new clothes,
whatever is needed. You're set
aside some time, and off you
go. A nice heart pounding workout
or two and wham, you're right
back to watching TV and thinking
about starting an exercise program.
What went wrong?
Nine times out of 10 what happened
was you simply tried to do too
much too soon. Think about the
dating game. You meet someone
you kind of like. You want that
person to like you too, and
you want them to call you. What
do you do? The prudent suitor
will play it a little cool at
first, so as not to scare away
the prospective partner. Give
a little, and leave them wanting
for more. The overzealous potential
mate comes on too strong, calling
multiple times a day, leaving
cute messages, buying gifts,
and basically overdoing it until
the once interested suitor,
suddenly isn't.
So how does this translate
into an exercise program? Give
your body a taste at first,
rather than a full banquet.
When I first started I got on
my indoor bike and rode for
all of six minutes.
Six Little
Minutes ...
Six minutes? You must be joking.
What good is that? Read on..
Six minutes obviously isn't
much but for someone who was
totally out of shape, it was
plenty. It was also fun, my
deeper breathing invigorated
me, and I made it easy enough
that I wanted to do it again.
It got my heart pumping, my
blood moving. It felt good.
I wanted more of that feeling,
so after only a few rides at
that level, I was ready to add
more time and/or days. Next
I decided to ride for 10 minutes,
Monday through Friday, and see
how it went. I could ride or
not on the weekend depending
on what I wanted at the time,
and I could drop back to six
minutes if it was too much.
This felt great and for a month
or more I happily rode for 10
minutes. What is 10 minutes
out of your day? It's nothing.
Anybody can give 10 minutes
to increase their health and
well being. Slowly, my ride
time increased to 12 minutes,
then 15, then 18, then 20. Once
I was riding for 20 minutes
I stayed there for quite awhile,
and now I was riding every day,
consistently. It had become
a new habit. My husband groans
when I say, "I'm going
to ride my bike," because
the bike is noisy, but this
is something I'm going to do.
No more excuses because it
might not be convenient for
someone else in the family.
It's always inconvenient for
someone else. If you're a mom,
a wife, have roommates, or live
in an apartment, someone else
has always got something they
need or want from you. This
is something I'm doing for me,
and when I'm in the mood, I'm
getting on the bike.
Consistency
Creates Results ...
Work your way slowly up to
20 minutes by starting at whatever
point you need, but start with
much less time than you are
truly capable. Why? To see that
you can do it, to give yourself
a reason to do it again. It
feels good. You'll be accomplishing
a tiny goal every day, and are
on your way to establishing
a new habit. It must be consistent
to become a part of your daily
routine. Something you do no
matter what. Something you do
even when you think you don't
have time. Something you would
miss an episode of your favorite
TV show to do because it's more
important.
If you don't think anything
is more important than your
favorite weekly TV shows, then
record the show for crying out
loud! Consistency is the key,
and the lover who wants more
will keep calling. Woo yourself.
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