Figuring Out What Works

Part of being consistent with your exercise program is figuring out what works for you. Suzanne has been struggling with this in her Crunch Time Blog, wondering why it's been so hard to get back to her exercise routine. What's interesting is that she decided she needs more exercise to get motivated. As she said, "the more I exercise, the better I feel and that makes me want to exercise more. But if I miss a session, I start "forgetting" about how good exercise makes me feel and then it's easier to "miss" another session." I couldn't have put it better myself.

Consistency is everything when it comes to exercise - the more time you put between workouts, the more you forget how good it can make you feel. You may also find that, if you're just starting out, you may need to be more disciplined with yourself and show up for every scheduled workout, even if you don't do the whole thing. Once you know you can trust yourself not to turn an extra rest day into a rest week or month, then you can be a bit more flexible with your workout schedule.

If you need a push in the right direction, try some of these resources:

• The Psychology of Exercise
• Is Your Mind Ready for Exercise?
• 6 Weeks to a Healthier Lifestyle