It is difficult to avoid knowledge of the benefits of exercise. You hear everywhere about the things it does for you physically, like increasing metabolism, burning away extra calories, and toning your muscles. You also hear about the benefits it has for your mental state, such as making you happier through the release of endorphins, and relieving stress. Many people advocate for other methods of stress relief and motivation, such as self-help literature or self hypnosis audio recordings. Exercise is cheaper and more effective than either of those things.
Despite knowing about its benefits, however, many people do not get enough exercise. The reason for this is often a lack of motivation. Even though you know you should go for a walk or a run, it seems too cold outside, or too hot, or you're too exhausted.
Generally, the more often you exercise, the easier it becomes to stay motivated to do it. Those positive feelings and physical changes will work to keep you craving their effects. This means that the most difficult part of any exercise routine is the beginning.
In fact, that is true both in the long term and the short term. When you are just beginning to work out, or just beginning to do a particular routine, the first few weeks are the most difficult time to stay motivated and consistent. Likewise, the first few minutes of any particular workout are the hardest.
When your muscles are not accustomed to working very hard, they get used to being idle. If you increase your level of activity, they will need some time to adjust. Just as you spend the first few minutes of a session warming up, you need to spend the first few weeks of any workout program building your tolerance. Don't push yourself too hard at the beginning.
Anyone who has worked out is familiar with the feeling of sluggishness that comes at the beginning. But anyone who has worked through it also knows that it dissipates, and your energy level increases if you keep going. It doesn't mean the workout is necessarily easy, but the intensity of the difficulty lessens.
This is also true in the case of an exercise program, not just an individual workout. And it is true not only of harder workouts like running or lifting weights, but even of walking longer distances than you are accustomed to. At first, you may feel sore or extra tired the next day, and you may need to take a day or two off in between workout sessions. This is fine; just make sure you start again!
If you stick with it, and continue to make progress, you will see that you can start to handle more strenuous workouts. You will also see that you'll be able to work out for longer periods of time. Just like your body gets used to working out in the short term, it also adjusts in the long term. In fact, you often begin to crave the exercise, because your brain becomes addicted to the endorphins. You also may experience an increased level of energy, to the point where you feel restless if you sit still for too long. Start exercising today, and see how long it takes your body to adjust!
Despite knowing about its benefits, however, many people do not get enough exercise. The reason for this is often a lack of motivation. Even though you know you should go for a walk or a run, it seems too cold outside, or too hot, or you're too exhausted.
Generally, the more often you exercise, the easier it becomes to stay motivated to do it. Those positive feelings and physical changes will work to keep you craving their effects. This means that the most difficult part of any exercise routine is the beginning.
In fact, that is true both in the long term and the short term. When you are just beginning to work out, or just beginning to do a particular routine, the first few weeks are the most difficult time to stay motivated and consistent. Likewise, the first few minutes of any particular workout are the hardest.
When your muscles are not accustomed to working very hard, they get used to being idle. If you increase your level of activity, they will need some time to adjust. Just as you spend the first few minutes of a session warming up, you need to spend the first few weeks of any workout program building your tolerance. Don't push yourself too hard at the beginning.
Anyone who has worked out is familiar with the feeling of sluggishness that comes at the beginning. But anyone who has worked through it also knows that it dissipates, and your energy level increases if you keep going. It doesn't mean the workout is necessarily easy, but the intensity of the difficulty lessens.
This is also true in the case of an exercise program, not just an individual workout. And it is true not only of harder workouts like running or lifting weights, but even of walking longer distances than you are accustomed to. At first, you may feel sore or extra tired the next day, and you may need to take a day or two off in between workout sessions. This is fine; just make sure you start again!
If you stick with it, and continue to make progress, you will see that you can start to handle more strenuous workouts. You will also see that you'll be able to work out for longer periods of time. Just like your body gets used to working out in the short term, it also adjusts in the long term. In fact, you often begin to crave the exercise, because your brain becomes addicted to the endorphins. You also may experience an increased level of energy, to the point where you feel restless if you sit still for too long. Start exercising today, and see how long it takes your body to adjust!
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