Exercise. How to Motivate yourself?

Do you find yourself procrastinating when its time to exercise?  Do you tell yourself that tomorrow or next week is a better time to exercise?  Do you tell yourself that you can do it after the completion of your big project on hand? Do you realised that theres always 1 good reason why not to exercise now/today? 

We all know the great benefits of exercising and yet some of us are finding it so difficult to reach out to these benefits.  At times, I too find myself getting trapped in this trap of procrastination.  For me however, most times, I will be able to get out of this trap.  This is what I do to re-motivate and re-energise myself to exercise today!

1) Be aware that you can fall into this procrastination trap.  Being aware is really important as once you are aware, you will then be able to catch yourself procrastinating and tell yourself to get out of it.  I had not exercise for the entire month of Dec with my so-call good reason being - I was helper-less for that month, I was busy handling work, my son, household chores ect, so easy excuse - no time!  However when my new helper came late last month, I did not see myself exercising too! reason being - I cant leave her alone with my son at home, I dont feel safe since she is still so new.  And now, yet another 2 weeks passed, I still have not exercise! YES, I caught myself... I am just procrastinating! There were many times when I could have just walked down to use the gym for 45min when my hubby is around, there were many times when I could have just hit the gym when my son is asleep.  So being aware, I caught myself doing this and henceforth last week told myself that I cannot procrastinate anymore. I hit the gym 3times last week consecutively Fri, Sat, Sun :)

2) Remind yourself the many benefits of exercising.  Topmost being staying young!  Don't you want to always look like you are in your 20s?  I do believe that consistent exercises can at least take 5 years off your actual age

3) Think about your kids! You need to be healthy to run after them, to care for them.  You will also need to set a good example for them to follow.  Chances are that kids with active parents will usually follow parents in these activities. 

4) Exercises helps you stay slim.  In theory, so long output > input, you should lose weights! Remember, if there is this special pill/drink which you take which proclaims that it will make you slim, can you imagine yourself taking it for life?  And if you think you just need to take it temporarily to lose the weights and from then on to continue to maintain the slim you, the chances are you are most likely to balloon back to your old weights.  Reason being, if your lifestyle remains the same like before, how can there be a different result.  eg : if you want to see different results, you need to do things differently!  1+1 is always 2. 

5) Imagine the good feel after you exercise.  You will be able to tell yourself (and others) that yes, you had done your share of exercises for the day/week.  You know you will feel good.  Compare this to feeling lousy when you think about yourself not exercising and procrastinating.  Create chances for yourself to feel good for the day!

And the list goes on.  Usually when you start exercising, you will slowly get into the hang of exercising, get into the hang of the good and healthy feel and will also slowly see your body transform to a healthy, tone and slim one.  And when this happens, it will surely spur you on to continue with your exercise journey.  So, start now, continue with it and the chances is it will stay with you!