Staying Motivated
Exercising is challenging for people with pre-diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes, especially for those people that are not accustomed to exercising on a regular basis. For most, starting and sustaining regular exercise routines involves incorporating lifestyle changes on a daily basis. Staying motivated to sustain these changes and to continue exercising can be difficult.
There are a host of reasons that people turn away from their exercise routines. Even if they know that regular exercise will reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes or diabetes complications, they may still be unable to exercise regularly due to a simple lack of motivation. After all, life is busy enough as it is without having to spend so much time working on your body, right?
Wrong. Even if your lifestyle is very busy or your reasons for not exercising very complex, if you wish to stay healthy it is essential that you take care of your body. Many people use their bodies to eat, work, play, and sleep, but rarely consider the maintenance that is involved with keeping that body healthy and in top form for the long-term. Your body, however, will face normal wear and tear that is caused by diabetes. Regular exercise is a simple solution to offset many of the complications associated with Diabetes, including blindness, loss of limbs, and even death.
If that knowledge isnt enough to send you straight to the gym, here are some other tips for staying motivated:
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Keep a daily log of your exercise activities. Youll be able to track your progress and chart every day that you exercise for later reference.
- Grab a friend. Working out in pairs helps to keep the routine fun.
- Join a class. Most gyms offer a variety of exercise classes to match your tastes and level.
- Set goals. Setting goals will help you stay motivated through especially tough work-outs. To start, keep your goals simple, such as running a mile or working out for 30 minutes every day of the week. Once you have achieved small goals, move onto the larger ones, like running a longer race or losing weight.
- Tell a friend about your work-out and goals. Sharing your routine or your goals may help you stay accountable to yourself.
- Subscribe to a fitness magazine. Whether you like it or not, you will receive a fitness magazine in the mail at least once a month. The magazine will remind you of your goals on a monthly basis and will stay around your house for everyday reading. Often, it helps to have a constant reminder to keep your exercise routine in check.
- Join a program. There are many weight-loss and exercise programs available that require you to follow a particular routine. These programs sometimes even have a physical space where you can go to meet other program followers. Check with your doctor to find out of there if he or she recommends any programs that would suit you.
Remember: exercising is an essential part of your Diabetes care. In order to stay healthy, you should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Be sure to ask your doctor for recommendations before beginning any new exercise routine.
