Exercise Is a Vital Component of Losing Weight–

But Where You Do It Matters

We all know that exercise is vital in order to lose weight and drop fat rather than muscle. Yet, we often have trouble fitting it into our daily schedule. Why?

Well, exercise can be challenging when you first get started and it’s quite easy to just give yourself the excuse, “I just don’t have the time.”

What I have figured out for myself and what exercise coaches have found to be true for their clients is that no matter which exercise program is chosen, it must be something the person enjoys doing.  Especially when it comes to the setting and location.

For me, I have converted the basement of my house into my “home gym”. The sunlight streams in through the big windows in the early morning, and it’s a great place to start the day.

NO, home gym does not mean I have the most expensive, high tech equipment. To be honest, the only items that make up my home gym are: an exercise ball, some adjustable weights, exercise bands, an exercise mat, and an old treadmill I bought on sale. That’s it! Nothing expensive or high tech about it.

Several times in the past I joined gyms and told myself I was going to go.  I’d start out fine, sticking to my  workout schedule, but eventually the extra burden of having to go to the gym, change there, and deal with the things I didn’t like there (noise, crowds, tv stations I didn’t like), led to me dropping out. I really liked working out (and the sauna), but I really didn’t like what I didn’t like about the gym itself.

I figured out that I really love my exercise room. Plus, our son can join me and use the treadmill while I do other exercises. He’s not stuck at the gym daycare–an activity he particularly hated. He can also act as my coach and keep me honest about my workout and motivated to complete it. Also, I don’t have to worry about who else needs the equipment or who’s lurking around the gym. I get an hour to focus on myself and it’s a great way to start my day.

I asked myself if this could possibly be what’s stopping many people from exercising. “Is this most people’s problem? Do they not like where they work out so they just don’t want to go?” So it’s really not the actual workout but the environment that they’re in.

Now maybe for you the situation is just the opposite. You don’t like working out in your home and you would much rather get out and be motivated by other healthy people. Whatever the case may be, choose something you enjoy! You will never make a lifestyle change to include exercise on a consistent basis if you don’t enjoy it. Who wants to do something that feels like torture? Not me. I love my morning exercise time and if it felt like torture, I just wouldn’t do it.

My question to you is: What do you have to do to make your workout time enjoyable? Or (heaven forbid) something you actually look forward to? Join an adult sports league?  Start your own exercise group?  Join a new gym? Set up a home gym? Find a workout partner?  The choices are endless.

Try many different options and figure out which activity you would enjoy best and I assure you, exercise never has to be a drag.

Get started on a new healthy nutrition and exercise plan right now. If you need help getting started, I recommend the meal plans and exercise programs in The Diet Solution Program.

Tags: exercise to lose fat, exercise to lose weight, fat loss, lose the fat, lose weight, Weight Loss Tips