EXERCISE: FIVE TIPS TO GET A ROUTINE GOING
One of the best ways to stop your energy and health sliding down even further is to exercise a little. In most cases, it also helps maintain
some level of fitness that is vital for recovery. I know, it doesn’t work for everyone, but you may be surprised at how effective even a
little bit of exercise is.
So how does anyone start exercising, when all you feel like doing is sitting down, or laying on your bed? You start small. For many of you, start very very very small. Here’s a few tips to keep yourself motivated, but not so much that you will overdo it:
- Forget your long term goals. In fact, don’t even set long term goals. The idea is to simply get a little bit active, and set a routine for exercise.
- Throw out the dumbells. Weights, equipment, pedometers… you don’t really need them. Many of us would overdo it on an exercise bike, and need a solution where we can’t get too carried away (and regret it for the following week).
- Start with stretches. If you are extreemly weak, simply set a routine with light stretches for a few weeks. Don’t spend more than 10 minutes on it, feel free to spend much less.
- Research small exercises you can do in everyday life. You may need to forget the push-ups and star jumps. Find 3-5 small stretches/exercises you can do and repeat them before or after 3 meals each day.
- Set a small goal. Don’t look ahead, but just make it your goal to be regular and consistent. For example, don’t aim to be able to do 5 push-ups in one go at the end of the week, aim to do your exercises twice a day, every day.
It’s amazing how effective regularity and consistency in exercise can be for your fitness. I know… you say, “What fitness?”, right? No matter how small it is, just start with some exercise. You’ll hear it many times: the hardest part is getting started. Do yourself a favor, start today, start small.
Filed under: chronic fatigue, tips
Hi! Just blog-hopped to your site.
For years I was sedentary and feeling all the effects of stress. Then I joined an introductory class in yoga, loved it, kept going, increased my classes from once a week to thrice weekly.
It’s been over a year since that first yoga class. In between my 3 yoga classes a week, I now walk over to the gym near our home, do 15 minutes on the treadmill, a little leg press, then self-yoga.
The change from couch potato to yogini has changed my physically, righted many things wrong in my body, and has mentally changed me as well.
You’re right when you say “start small”. The body will just automatically ask for MORE!
That’s great to hear how yoga has helped. I guess the best part of that is that people who can’t go jogging because of their health can still do some yoga & get some physical benefit.
I know some people have a “waryness” about the spirituality of yoga, and I’ve never tried it, but I’d love to learn more.
You just proved why it is so important to start small! Thanks for stopping by
Have you ever visited yogeekworkout.wordpress.com. Elsie is cool and knows what she is doing.
That’s what stopped me from even getting into yoga — I thought the yogis would try to convert me to their faith, or something like that.
Didn’t happen! At least our yogi teacher, who is a Hare Krishna devotee, keeps our conversations at a level which I, a Christian, can relate to without compromising what I believe in. He emphasizes more the health aspects like reducing meats and eating more veggies, as well as maintaining positive energy always directed towards self and others.
There are various yoga styles. I do the hatha vinyasa yoga which is gentler, emphasizes correct breathing, and has sequences that flow from pose to pose. There should be studios around your area…good luck!
Thats fantastic. I guess it really depends on the teacher and how “fundamentalist” they are in their beliefs. It’s good you found one you could get along with.
I might look into that more. Thanks for the suggestions.
**Coops** - You’re welcome!
**mcgheetraining** - yes, yogeek site is great! I have posted to and gotten back great comments and suggestions from Elsie. She is a good reference for my yoga practice.
I have never tried yoga. That’s something I’ll have to look into. I find that whenever I try to exercise, such as walking on the treadmill, I will start out at 2 - 3 minutes and over many weeks work my way up to 20 - 30 minutes. Then I have a flare and I have to start all over again. It’s hard for me to be consistent.