The question for me has always been what can make me exercise on a regular basis?
I've come up with two effective motivators: fear and routine.
Fear of getting stiff and stiffer, achy and achier; losing my balance and coordination; putting on weight in all the wrong places; being injured more easily and recovering more slowly; diminishing in strength and endurance.
Not such a pleasant list, eh? But reviewing it - - especially when I get up in the morning - - does provide motivation for me.
What takes me from fear to actually exercising is routine. I have established a routine for myself, and I hardly ever let myself break it. I go to my exercise class 3-4 days a week and hardly ever accept another appointment that conflicts with it.
"Go" is the operative word for me. If I rely on staying home and exercising, somehow I never get around to it. Of course that's not true for everyone. I have a friend who makes herself get on her home stationary bicycle 4 times a week before she gives herself the privilege of breakfast.
I love my exercise classes - - for about 15 minutes. If I were at home, that would be the end of it. But being in a group in an organized class, I am too proud to give up. So I complete the hour and then give myself a lot of pats on the back and usually a cup of good coffee, no sugar.
Of course there are fun aspects to exercise and adding things you naturally enjoy helps. Walking on a glorious spring day is an easy choice for some or a tennis round robin or tap dancing as the lady (88 years old!) in the newspaper was doing. If that works for you and gets you exercising on a regular basis, terrific. If not, consider fear and routine.
