Ask The Fitness Professional – How To Start An Exercise Program At Home And Stay Motivated.

I remember back in the day when I would stare at the treadmill in the corner of my bedroom and have every good intention of hopping on at some point during the day and start exercising.   Day after day would go by with the same stare and the same good intention, but the closest I got to exercising would be to throw clothes over it and begin to use it as a makeshift closet.  I just couldn’t find the motivation to do it.  One morning, as I was folding the clothes that had been thrown on my friend, the treadmill, an infomercial started and I was intrigued.  I saw this very perky blonde woman (who I had never heard of or seen before) and she was doing these kickboxing moves and dancing to awesome music.  So…that was different.  Kickboxing and dancing – together?  I saw that same infomercial about five more times before I decided to give it a try.  Of course, the biggest mistake I could have made was to tell my husband, who reminded me of the makeshift closet in the corner of our bedroom that cost several hundred dollars.  I ordered the DVD’s anyway.  That was the beginning of my commitment to working out at home.  The name of the DVD set was Turbo Jam, and the perky blonde instructor was Chalene Johnson.  Now, the interesting thing about doing Turbo Jam was that it came with a calendar.  I didn’t have to think about what to do everyday, they told me!  I found something I loved and stuck to it!

         So, when you think about starting an exercise program at home and wonder how to stay motivated, where do you begin?  My suggestion…begin with doing your homework and finding something you love.  Then, follow these tips to stay on track.

1. Set A Goal – Always set small, realistic goals so you can achieve success.  Maybe your first goal is to fit into a particular pair of jeans, or to be able to walk up a your hallway steps without feeling winded.  Unless you are already an athlete, your short-term goal should probably not include completing an Ironman, but perhaps you can start with running/walking in a 5k.
2. Schedule Your Exercise – If you schedule a regular time each day/week to exercise, stick to it.  You wouldn’t blow off a doctor’s appointment, so don’t “conveniently” find something else to do instead of your appointment to workout.  I found it very helpful that Turbo Jam came with a calendar, which included rest days.  If you purchase a home exercise DVD, it should come with a program to follow.  If you are doing your own home workout, make your own calendar and post it somewhere in your house where you will look at it everyday.
3. Have Workout Clothes – Be sure to have your workout clothes ready to go.  Something as simple as a t-shirt and shorts or sweats and a good pair of sneakers will work fine.  Once you dress for you workout, you will feel ready to give it your all.
4. Diversify Your Workout – After about 10-12 weeks, your body will begin to get used to the workouts you have been doing and you may see your body plateau.  By diversifying your workout, you will avoid the plateau, confuse your muscles, and see great results!
5. Reward Yourself! – Every time you reach one of your goals, go out and reward yourself.  Buy a new pair of sneakers or even a new home exercise DVD, a massage, new jeans, or whatever will make you feel great!  Rewarding yourself will also keep you motivated!

Lynn Mele is a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Group Fitness Instructor through American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA) and is certified through AAAI-ISMA, Balanced Body, and Zumba.  She teaches independent Zumba classes at the Freehold Firehouse on Siloam Road, is Group Fitness Manager at Gold’s Gym East Windsor, and is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach.  Contact Info: 908-692-5589 or LM6139@aol.com. Websites:  www.teambeachbody.com/lynfit, www.shakeit2me.com, www.ultimatereset.com/lynfit.