Is Your Resolve to Get Fit Flagging?
What comes after Christmas and New Year’s? Quitters Day! That’s right, studies show about the third week in January most New Year’s resolutions begin to fizzle. If one of your resolutions was to exercise regularly, at NY Foot Health we want to help you to find ways to keep it going. Below are some common reasons people stop exercising and how to counter them.
“It hurts.”
While it’s normal to experience some muscle aches and soreness when you first start a new fitness routine, severe or ongoing pain shouldn’t be part of the program. If the pain is in your feet and/or ankles, one question to ask is “Am I wearing the right type of shoe for the activity I am doing?” You’ll also want to make sure your athletic footwear fits properly and not worn to the point that internal components are not supporting your feet the way they should. Foot pain that’s interfering with your ability to exercise should be checked out by your podiatrist. If you don’t currently have a foot doctor that you see in your area, use our online directory to find one.
“I don’t have time.”
A key to sustaining an exercise program is convenience. It’s important to choose a plan that fits well with your schedule. Someone who’s tied to a store counter or subject to multiple meetings daily isn’t going to fit in an hour-long spin class in the middle of the day. Similarly, forcing yourself to work out before work if you’re not a morning person is likely to fail. If committing to a structed exercise regimen is proving difficult, try to find ways to be more active in your daily life. Get off the bus one stop before yours, choose parking spaces further away from the store, get steps in by walking around while you talk on the phone, take the stairs instead of the elevator.
“It’s boring.”
Another surefire way to kill your exercise resolution is to choose something you don’t enjoy doing. There are so many ways to increase your level of physical activity! From online classes to hiking clubs to dance lessons to simply walking. Do you want a solitary activity or would a workout plan with a social component be more appealing? Do you prefer something you can do at home, or would you rather be outdoors? Give some thought to what would be appealing to you and then switch up your plan rather than quit.
Exercise has great benefits for your feet and your overall health. To learn more about fitness and your feet contact us and subscribe to our free e-newsletter.