Fitting in time to exercise

[disgruntled]

i need suggestions as to how you guys fit in time to exercise. i am just finishing up my first semester and i have found that i have not been going to MA near as much as i would like to. it just seems to easy to come up with an excuse. my favourite being, but i have a paper to do, i better spend my time doing that..... especially now when it is finals. do you guys have routines to keep you on track? do you just push through the excuses to force you to go? do you "pump your self up" to motivate your self to be active?

[Hatori]

With my swimming, I get into the pool 6.30am every morning so by 7.10am I'm done. This then sets me up for the day as I feel energised and not guilty on the venings I DON'T do my MA as I have still exercised that day. Once I get ionto a routine I find it easy to stick with it. I prepare everything the night before such as my lunch, my swimming kit etc

[disgruntled]

i am going to do my best at trying that... i am a night owl, so i do not know if it will work..... i do not wake up until 10 mins before i have to leave to work... i wish i was exagerating, but i am not......

this weeks schedule is really messed up, so i might not be able to try till next week.... i will let you know how it goes..... any other tips?

[Hatori]

I wish you good luck then. Remember the old saying " IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN, YOU PLAN TO FAIL" Another tip is "enjoy yourself". If you're lucky enough to do something that does you the world of good and you enjoy it then hold on to it. I'm going to continue swimming every day after I finish my Goal because there is not one negative aspect to it and as I really enjoy it, why stop? Also don't be hard on yourself if you "slip up" or have an off day. You are human after all and we all have a bad day occasionally so let it go and continue with your goal/target in mind

[sirdarling]

What I do to fit time in is just push through excuses like you said. I find that most people that stay with exercising make excuses... to exercise. I think of the reasons I am doing it: to get in better health, to be better at MA, to be stronger and to be more attractive and I use those excuses to combat any excuses that may crop up.

Here is a brief example of a conversation in my head:
"So a bunch of people are going out to watch a movie after work. I want to go with them but it's gym day."
"Well self, can that movie help me lift more, strike harder or move my BMI down?"
"Obviously not self... but it would be fun."
"We can have fun with our friends tomorrow night, we are going to that show remember?"
"Oh yeah, that's right... tomorrow is a cardio session and a new band's show, that will be fun. So working out tonight it is."

You can use that example but just input class paper instead. If you are really a night owl and you have a paper due, shorten your workout and do some work on the paper as well. Any workout is better than none and using that time away from your paper may help to refocus on it as well.

[disgruntled]

wow, i admire your self restraint..... i am bad for that. the "it's fun" excuse would have won out.... i will try your self talk in the future..... i generally try to have my cake and eat it too. i would try to fit in both.

[sirdarksol]

I'm just as bad at it. The "fun" excuse would win out with me, too.
However, as my body is no less temporary than my enjoyment, I don't feel too horrible about it.

[sirdarling]

That's a good idea though. Even 15 minutes of exercise is better than no exercise. Plus if you start out small and keep with that, then you can build on that in the future.
I try my very best to live by this quote:
“Your life is something you build everyday. You must convince yourself you have surpassed yesterday. And tomorrow you must feel you have surpassed today. And this way there is no end to mastery.”
Yamamoto said that in the 18th century and it is still true today. I think the biggest thing to stress is don't get mad at yourself if you don't work out for one day... get mad at yourself if you skip a week.

[disgruntled]

wow, thanks for the quote!! it is really inspiring!!!!! those are words to live by in all aspects of your life.

[cyclone]

You could try adding it into your regular routine throughout the day. For instance, instead of driving places -- walk or bike. When you are in the middle of a project, take a break to do some situps or pushups. You don't necessarily have to go to a designated place to get your exercise in.