Break it Down.
March 24, 2008
I have a good friend who is a pilates instructor in New York City. I asked her what she thinks you need to do to stay fit. She’s run two marathons and other races, so, here’s what Nel told me:
1. Think positively. Every time you want to put yourself down, replace that negativity with a positive thought.
2. Schedule time to exercise. Do your favorite activity 4 to 5 days a week for at least 20 minutes.
3. Exercise with friends. It’s always a great motivator.
4. Forgive yourself if you miss a day. Guilt never helps.
5. Remember that exercise is a way to express yourself. If you do it just to lose weight, you won’t want to do it and it will become a burden.
6. DRINK WATER!
I love all of your ideas! Staying motivated can be really tough, so I like to trick myself into exercising by squeezing little bursts of activity into every day. For example, I live on the 11th floor of my apartment building. I try to take the stairs instead of the elevator at least once a day. I’m usually huffing and puffing (and pausing briefly between each flight to catch my breath) by the 8th floor, but I always make it to the top eventually!
I loved what you said. I run track, and it can get hard. Sometimes I just want to give up in a race, so I start thinking bad things and it throws me off. I like the tips 🙂