Getting Motivated with Moderation

by WiredBerries Editors — November 15, 2007

Don't fall into the trap of thinking you have to be "hardcore" to get into good shape. Remember, just 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a few days a week will do all this and more:

• Lowers blood pressure
• Decreases the risk of heart disease
• Helps prevent type-2 diabetes
• Reduces the risk of certain types of cancer
• Adds to bone strength
• Assists in weight control

Regular exercise also improves your chances of living longer with more stamina. It's also a way to detoxify your body and a way to give the body a daily tune-up. With all these benefits from exercise, who would want to just sit all day? The problem is usually how to stay motivated. Here are a few tips from Harvard Health Publications:

• Form a habit. Consistency is one of the most important ingredients. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
• Keep an exercise diary. Record the type and duration of exercise. Also keep track of your periods of inactivity. The diary will serve to reinforce and help you visualize your accomplishments.
• Be patient with yourself. Focus on your successes, not your failures, and reward yourself, but choose rewards other than food.
• Enlist the support of family and friends. Teaming up with others to exercise allows you to encourage each other. Keep your friends updated about your progress. Friends also can applaud and reward your accomplishments.
• Have fun. Distractions like talking to someone, deeply inhaling fresh air, or listening to great music can soothe your mind and allow you to enjoy the sweat, pulsating heart, and contracting muscles of the body in motion.

Be creative! Only you know what's really standing in the way of better personal fitness. With a little thought and creatively, you'll find a way to resolve it.