Move the Way You Love

Click here to access this week's Weekly Topic

Do you like to play hide-and-seek with your kids? Go fly-fishing? Swing dance? Think of activities you enjoy, that put a smile on your face, and that enhance your life overall. They can be the foundation of a lifetime of being active. When you shift from thinking about physical activity as something that's "good for me" to something that "feels good to me"—in other words, when you make pleasure the goal of physical activity rather than some vague or distant weight- or appearance-related goal—you're more likely to stick with it over the long term.

From "have to" to "want to"

Michelle Segar, Ph.D., who's researched exercise motivation, suggests that most of us have the wrong _why_ when it comes to fitness. It might seem counterintuitive, but if we're moving to fit into those jeans, or to lower our blood pressure or cholesterol levels, or because we should—we're almost guaranteed to trail off and stop. That's because those reasons lump physical activity with everything else in the ‘Chores We Have to Do’ bucket. How appealing can that be? Segar suggests we shift our focus to think of moving more as a gift we can give ourselves. When we free our minds to choose only what we really want to do, it becomes fun, something to look forward to, and a reward in itself!

Make it happen

Once you've landed on a fun activity you want to try, the worksheet in your Weekly can help you draw up a plan for when, how long, where, and even with whom you will do the activity. Check out ideas for making movement a lifelong, pleasurable habit:

Wear an activity monitor, like a Fitbit. Seeing how many steps you've taken, how far you've gone, or how many calories you've burned can motivate you to keep going.

Get your crew on board. Invite your family and friends to join you; or team up with an activity buddy. Having company can help you stay on track.

Anticipate dips. Everyone struggles with motivation from time to time, even when you enjoy what you're doing. Anticipating such feelings can help you quickly bounce back from them. For example, if you sometimes struggle to get in that morning walk, ask a friend to call you to make sure you're not still sitting on the sofa.

Buy activewear that makes you feel good. Shop for well-designed, flattering, and supportive workout clothes; you'll be more motivated to work out.