Why Do We Make Exercise So Hard?
By Mary Ann Wilson, RN
This summer, I had an opportunity to actually do Sit and Be Fit at home as it aired on our local public television station, KSPS-TV, in Spokane, WA. Everyone in my office knew not to disturb me from 11:30 to noon! It was a fun experience sitting there following all the instructions coming from the TV. I found I was smiling back at myself and enjoying every minute. The time went by quickly and after each workout I felt so much better than I did at the beginning of the program. It was time well spent, even though there always seemed to be a hundred other things calling to be done. It reminded me of what Sit and Be Fit has taught me. Exercise doesn’t have to be hard to bring benefits!
Over the summer, I also found myself in lots of different conversations with people who mentioned how difficult it is to start exercising and stay with it. This got me wondering, “Why do we have the tendency to make exercise SO hard that it becomes a barrier?” Here’s what I think…
1) We are our own worst enemy when we expect to get into shape overnight! We tend to go overboard doing more repetitions than necessary, using heavier weights or bands than we ought to, etc. Then, we commit the worst mistake of all. We ignore the signals our body is giving when it tells us we are overdoing it. This approach leads to frustration and often times to giving up.
2) We underestimate the power of taking small bits of time here and there, throughout the day, to practice easy exercises. Doing one to five minutes a day of something (practicing good posture, breathing deep and wide, standing up and sitting down) is better than doing nothing! In fact, according to the newest research out of England, just fidgeting alone may counteract the adverse effects of prolonged sitting. So, if you can do nothing else, just fidget!
There are so many excellent little ways to weave functional fitness exercises into your life. It is my deepest desire to encourage you to embrace movement and an active lifestyle. Exercise is a simple, cost-free, prevention practice and a great remedy to address little aches and pains. You are in a powerful position to make positive choices that will help you get the most out of your life!
Related Blogs:
Mary Ann’s Quick Energizer Workout
Slow down when you start your exercises. You are usually done with one before I get started or get the necessary equiptment. Also what is the size of the towel you use? I have lots of towels but we all have different sizes. Thanks for hearing me out. I’m almost 84 and need the exercise as I have lost most of my balance. Thanks again.
I am not sure someone got back to you, but the towel that Mary Ann uses is 45 inches long x 12 inches wide. Also, thank you for the comment and suggestions. We love to hear from our viewers.
I started watching Mary Wilson’s
Sit and Be Fit on my TV many years ago. I was much younger at that time and I was busy and on the go
I soon started to purchase VHS’s which I could work into my schedule
followed by CD’s
I have always found a connection to
Mary Wilson and have been inspired by her belief in the benefit of excercise
I am now 75 and continue to use my
CD’s in fact I recently purchased the new Basic Workout tape and gave the free copy to a friend
I now see Gretchen is more involved and the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. I am inspired by the new generation too and she is doing very well
I used to watch Sit and Be Fit daily. Then my TV station changed it’s schedule and started broadc
asting it at 6:30 in the morning. That’s too early for me. Since then, my level of exercise had decreased.
Sit and Be Fit is a lot of fun for me because, It’s my very first time doing these exercises while watching the show. I love her Ms. Mary Ann’s Honesty and trust. I will continue Reaching Out for a Better Day.
Wow! what a great article about exercise, i just shared this page with my one of my friend who is lazy about exercise, hope now he will inspire after read this great things.
Wow! what a great article about exercise, i just shared this page with my one of my friend who is lazy about exercise, hope now he will inspire after read this great things. Benefits of Fitness
Great post, The mental barrier to health and fitness is by far the hardest to over come! I love Tony Robbins concept of “Chunking” in order to over come the mental barrier to getting off the couch and actually go to the gym. be often just create over or under think the actually enormity of the task ahead
thanks so much your a lovely person….i am trying to get my wife with ra do do your routines…i do them along with qigong…wonderful
Thanks regarding supplying this type of very good posting