mentioned in her previous post, here at M’lis we have been challenged to do three triathlons within the year of 2008. In order to help us accomplish this goal, the M’lis team has implemented an exercise schedule. In the past I have found that when I was working out regularly, my workouts eventually became monotonous and I lost interest. My own experience has shown me that when I have a support group, people who share my same goals and enthusiasm, that I have more motivation to stick with the exercise program. Without a support group, after 6 to 12 weeks, interest fades and the doldrums set in. That’s when many of us give up. What’s so frustrating is that many of us quit just when we’re on the verge of success…at both making exercise a habit and seeing significant fat loss. Below are some of the common mistakes that hold us back from reaching our full exercise potential:Focusing on the scale- Weight loss isn’t going to happen right away. For some folks, it takes months to see significant changes. What we never take in consideration is that our muscles weigh a lot more then fat. When starting a program, it’s best to set measurable goals like getting a certain number of workouts in each week or lifting a certain amount of weight.
Working too hard- Newbies sometimes go at their new workout programs like veteran exercisers. Starting easy and working your way up to more frequent exercise makes your workouts more enjoyable and gives your body time to adjust to exercise.
Not working hard enough- On the other hand, some people don’t take their intensity high enough to promote weight loss results.
Comparing yourself to others- If your friend is losing weight faster than you are, it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you. We all lose fat at different rates. Try to spend less time comparing yourself to others and focus on your own personal gains.
Giving up too soon- If you’re not seeing results yet, giving up is the last thing you should do. If you’ve been working out consistently, don’t give up, you are on your way to weight loss.
If you continue to stay motivated, not only will it help the appearance of your body but it will help your overall health. Decreasing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, the risk of diabetes, and the risk of osteoporosis are just a few exercise related benefits. Keep going and don’t give up! It’s worth it….
If you would like to participate with the M’lis team in our exercise schedule, we will be posting our weekly exercise goal each Friday.
-Stephanie
