Basic Pursuits

In my experience, people bomb their exercise habit by trying too hard. They overexert themselves and produce a plea from the body which screams louder and louder, "don't do this to me!" They ultimately quit because either it becomes so unpleasant that they can't stand it anymore, or worse, they injure themselves, and their body demands they quit.

If you are struggling with exercise, your number one goal should be to create an exercise experience so compelling that you can't not do it. Here are some keys to hardwiring that happy state.

1. Set habit goals, not ego goals. Right: My goal is to exercise
   four times a week for the next six weeks and find ways to enjoy it. Wrong: My goal is to go down
   two dress sizes. Wrong: My goal is to run five miles by Christmas. Establish the habit and then refine your personal goals.
2. Start slow. Do less than you think you should. Practice conserving energy for the next session. You'll soon find yourself longing to do more. Continue to reserve energy. Your body will appreciate it and reward you by urging you to exercise again rather than talking you out of it.
3. Be regular. Do something on a regular basis even if it's less than you think that you should. Do it and be glad. Don't forget, your goal is to hardwire a habit. Nothing helps that like repetition. Repetition for the long term exerciser is far more important than arbitrary personal goals.
4. Ignore other people. Never envy others' abilities. Never shame yourself by comparing yourself to others.
5. Work to make it feel good. Never forget that the primary reason that people with regular exercise routines maintain them is because it makes them feel good. Join the winners. Seek this happy state.
6. Compete to attain well-being, not to feed your ego. Overdoing to gain a look, to defeat a competitor, to attain bragging rights, can all be enemies of a long term exercise habit.
7. Manage the physical stress. Exercise is stress producing. If applied in sensible quantities, your body will respond to the stress of exercise by giving you firmer and larger muscles, improved circulation, less fat, brighter skin tone, a more positive outlook, greater aerobic capacity, endurance, health-conscienceness and hundreds of other benefits. Over stress yourself and you'll get fatigue, chronic muscle soreness, a haggard look, insomnia, and countless other unpleasant side effects. No wonder your body rebels and talks you into quitting.

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