We all know that regular exercise is an important part of good health. You will feel better and improve the functioning of your body in many ways through regular exercise. Yeah, yeah, we all know that, but it still does not make it any easier to do it! Well, I have some tips for you that will make it easier for you to get moving.

1. Don’t make a commitment to daily exercise ‡Make a commitment to something easier! You do not have to find the will power to exercise daily. Yes, that is what I said. You do not have to talk yourself into doing your workout each day. You only have to talk yourself into getting dressed and doing your warm up. It only takes about ten minutes to dress and warm up. It is much easier to convince yourself to this one small task, even if you are tired or stressed or lethargic. Once you are warmed up, you will probably want to do the rest of your workout. When your body gets moving, moving feels good. A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. Make a commitment to dressing and warming up ... after that your workout will just naturally follow!

2. You can increase your chances of dressing and warming up tomorrow if you take one simple action today. Get your clothes together today for tomorrow’s workout. If you workout in the morning, put your sneakers and sweats where you will see them and put them on first thing in the morning. If you go to a class, pack your gym bag or swim bag ahead of time. Once you have already prepared for your workout, you are much more likely to follow through and do it!

3. Getting Started Using a Workout Video: Many people leave the video sitting on the shelf until they are ready to workout. That can be a problem. It may cause you to delay getting started ... or never start.You don’t have to DO the workout to get started. I suggest that you fix a nice drink, sit in a comfy chair and WATCH the video first. Yep, just watch before you tell yourself that you are really going to do the exercises. This gives you a chance to see that you really CAN do this workout ... you may even have to set down your drink and boogie!

4. The solution is in the structure. If you hope to exercise each day, but the days slip by and somehow it just doesn’t happen, welcome to the human race. Life is often unpredictable. Something comes up or time flies by and the next thing you know, the day is over and you are hoping to exercise tomorrow. Over the years, I have seen clients overcome these normal human tendencies using two simple techniques:
—Give yourself a workout first thing in your day. This insures that you will exercise before anything can happen to get in the way. You will also have more energy and a brighter mood to face the challenges of the day.
—If you need to, join a class so you have a regular workout scheduled into your day. You may find a local class that meets your needs. You may get together with one or two friends and workout with videos in the family room. (You will find many video choices at http://www.PlusSizeYellowPages.com in the category “Videos”) Or you can form your own “virtual class” by getting together with a friend or two and schedule your workouts. Plan to call or email each other before or after the workout to enjoy each other’s support. All of these options provide the structure that insures you will take the time for your daily exercise. You don’t have to figure out when you will workout. Your day is structured to include the workout for you!

5. This week’s tip! Human beings are social creatures. You are more than twice as likely to succeed if you include a friend in your fitness plans. Remember, your friend can join you in person, by phone, or by email. Be creative! If you walk in the morning, walk with a friend or join a walking club at a local mall. If you join a class, get a friend to join with you. There will be times when you might cancel if it was just up to you. When you workout with a friend, you are more likely to stick to your plan because you do not want to let your friend down. Exercising with a friend is a wonderful thing to do for you and for your friend.

Whatever your fitness level, whatever your age, whatever your medical condition, your body heals faster and functions better when you get moving. This is a great gift to give yourself. You deserve to feel better about your body and your life!

Check out some other great tips this week!

This has been excerpted from Kelly Bliss’ book Don’t Weight, Eat Healthy and Get Moving NOW!

Since 1986 Kelly Bliss has been a Lifestyle Coach and plus size fitness professional. She helps people take better care of themselves and solve the problems that get in the way. Check out how at her website. Find what you need for your active lifestyle at Kelly Bliss’ Plus Size Yellow Pages.