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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