Exercise: Pick up a good habit and keep it
By Veera Mahajan
Michigan, USA

If you keep doing something repeatedly, it becomes a habit and eventually a part of your life. Over time you can pick up some good and not so good habits and we all know that habits are hard to break. So, why not try and pick up one that is good for you.

Out of all my habits I am glad that the one I am particularly attached to and I hope I will never loose is exercising every day. I know it is and has been good for me. On a typical weekday morning I like to wake up about 5:30 a.m. I quickly get my sneakers on and within few minutes I am in the basement, on the treadmill, doing weights, aerobics or stretches depending on how I am feeling that day. Well this is my typical good day, when I can wake up early. Of course there are days when I can not wake up early and then all day I am thinking and running against time to find those 45 minutes when I will be able to exercise. If I am really committed and my day is not so packed with too much to do, I can get into my running shoes, go out and run 3 miles or do 30 minutes of steps and few minutes of stretching in the evenings. If I can't find time for anything else or if the weather is bad for an outdoor run, I like to run the stairs. If I can get 20-30 minutes of running on the stairs I get a good workout and I'm happy. Weekends I like to sleep in, wake up at 8 or 9 a.m. I try to work out five to six days a week. I get irritated if I do not exercise. Exercise is a good habit which I am very glad that my father introduced me to at a very early age.

While we all know that exercise is good for physical health, people who exercise regularly will understand if I say that it is very important for your emotional health too. You might need a little motivation or kick in the behind to get started but once you get started, you feel so good even if you are working out by yourself. After a while you do not even think about time, you start enjoying the workout, the time flies and before you know it, you are done. The results are the by-products. The exhilaration you feel from sweating and being active makes you feel alive. Energy you feel from the workout lifts your spirits and confidence. That is one of the reasons I workout in the morning, I start my day with a new confidence and I am happy that I have spent the time I like to spend on me and I don't have to worry about it all day. Then, the rest of the day is open to tackle with whatever else comes my way. I am ready to take care of everyone and everything else.

Apart from getting the beautiful body that you will get from the workout, I am sure you will like the additional health benefits you get from regular exercise. Exercise is the best preventive medicine for heart diseases. It lowers resting heart rate and blood pressure. Exercise helps lower cholesterol and helps you maintain healthy weight. Aerobic workouts help healthy skin by stimulating circulation and flushing out waste products. Mixing aerobics exercises and weight training helps you build muscle tone and reduces the risk of diabetes.

Some of the motivation tips that have worked for me are: change your workout routine everyday, try different things, like running, walking, or aerobics. Do some kind of aerobics workout one day and weights the next day. Make your workouts fun; if you don't like to exercise alone, find a workout buddy, or exercise to your favorite movie or music. Never buy clothes in sizes bigger than you would like to wear. Even though you should not be obsessed with weighing yourself everyday, it helps if you check your weight regularly and don't let it get too much out of control. Another thing that helps is having a full size mirror in the bathroom, so you can look at yourself everyday. You will not have to ask your friend or your spouse, "Am I looking fat?", they might be too polite and tell you what you want to hear but the mirror does not lie, it will tell you as it is.

This summer, I would like to urge you to make exercise an important and essential part of your day. If you are a beginner, please start slow and increase the intensity gradually. I assure you that once you get the hang of it, you will be able to add more time and resistance to your workouts and soon be able to achieve any fitness goals that you might have. With all the energy you will gain, you will feel better all day, even at work. The sense of accomplishment and knowing that you are not neglecting yourself will make you feel good about yourself and you will be more happy and ready to take on new things. This new and improved, happier and healthier you will be more successful in everything else you do.

Just get up and do it, there is nothing to loose. I am certain once you get started, you will get hooked on looking and feeling great. You will love your new look and feel.

Be active and healthy!! Be happy!!

Writer of this article can be reached. veera@NRIinternet.com