How is your exercise program going? Having trouble staying on course? Maybe you knew you wouldnt be able to adhere to a routine and are now worried about how you are going to stay motivated. What can we learn from those who stick to an exercise program? What are their motivators?
We have learned from exercise research that the number one reason a long-term exerciser continues with an active lifestyle is to achieve fitness and maintain health. This is an expected response because health and fitness have always been the most frequently sighted response to exercise. Here are the ten motivating factors that keep people exercising for the long-term and not just short-term goals: 1) feelings of well being, 2) increased energy and vitality, 3) enjoyment of activity, 4) better sleep, 5) being more alert 6) look good, 7) stress reduction, 8) maintain body weight 9) maintain health 10) fear of being over-weight. Now who wouldnt want to experience any of these benefits? One thing I want to point out is that appearance or feeling better and weight management were not the most important motivators for long-term exercisers.
Long-term exercisers make exercise a...