The "E" Word

Exercise. It conjures up perky, fitter-than-thou folks who get excited about sweat, spin class and workout routines. Kill me, now. Just thinking about exercise makes this potato want to curl up on her Lazy Boy and take a nap. OK, it's not so bad as that. But for some reason, even activities that leave one with a feel-good-endorphin afterglow meet with massive mental resistance. 

And that's a shame. Because, diet and exercise are a perfect pairing, a dynamic duo and a one-two punch. In  combination, they  lower weight, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar more effectively than either would alone. 

So, the question is: how does one remove the "Eww" from exercise? Possibly, by taking the work out of workout. Playtime sounds a lot more fun, doesn't it? Think of activities that you want to do, instead of the exercises you feel you should do. Maybe walking on the beach, riding a bike or going on a hike. How about bringing along a buddy? Then you can socialize while getting into shape. 

My husband takes the one-step-at-a-time approach. He breaks the whole exercise event down into segments. First, get the gear ready. Next, get out the door. Drive to the gym or the pool. Once there, it's not so bad. Yet, he gives himself permission to quit. Does 15 minutes or so and then sees how he feels. It works for him. 

Of course, the more you exercise, the faster you reach your goal weight and the faster you get to Phase Two of the Brentwood Diet. That's a huge inducement. Fear of a heart attack and stroke works as motivation, too. Hey, whatever gets you moving is good. And that's the word on exercise.