It's barely March, and though people may still be shoveling snow in other parts of the country, the weather here in Greenwood for the past couple weeks suggests that spring has arrived.
Spring is a season that brings many new things - new flowers, new clothes, new babies. But there is one "new" that tends to fall by the wayside this time of year - our New Year's resolutions.
Two of the most popular resolutions are losing weight and exercising more. Every January we pledge to visit the gym religiously. We promise that this will be the year we improve our health and take off those extra pounds. And we follow through - well, sort of.
"The gyms are always packed right after New Year's," said Sydney Anne Ainsworth, exercise physiologist at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital Wellness Center. "But then after a couple of weeks it dies down. Everyone quits."
These days everyone is aware of the health benefits of exercise. Aside from weight loss, exercise strengthens bones and muscles, boosts the immune system and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. It is a known fact that regular exercise will make us feel better about ourselves in general and improve our overall health.
So why are the gyms not packed every day of the year? Why are the streets not flooded with people out walking, running or riding their bikes?
The real problem is finding the motivation to work-out.
With our busy lifestyles, it's hard to imagine engaging in any sort of physical activity after coming home from work in the evening. Most of the time all we want to do is plop down on the couch with a beer in one hand and the remote control in the other.
Ainsworth said in order to maintain good physical health, a person should exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes to an hour, alternating strength training and cardiovascular exercise. If they want to lose weight, they should work out at least five times a week.
If you're wondering how on earth you're going to find the time and energy for all of that, here are some tips on how to get motivated:
Work out with a partner
Plan to walk in the afternoons with a friend, make a date to go the gym three times a week with your spouse or promise your children you'll take them out for a bike ride next weekend. Thinking of it as a social obligation to someone else instead of a personal indulgence for yourself will make you more likely to keep the appointments and stick to your exercise program.
Plus, there is the added benefit of having someone to talk to and joke around with. If you can forget the fact that you're exercising and focus on how much fun you're having spending time with your partner it will make the time fly by.
Walk a dog
If you already own a dog, you know the drill. Your dog always wants to go for a walk, even when you don't feel like it and even when the weather is less than perfect. And who can say no to those cute, little, furry faces? Because of this, dog owners tend to get more exercise than non-owners. So if you've been considering adoption, go for it. It'll be good for your health.
If you're not quite ready for the responsibility of owning a dog permanently, you can volunteer to walk dogs at the Leflore County Humane Society. Call Becky Shaw at 466-0376 or Sharon Stone at 392-1904 to find out about filling out a volunteer form and scheduling a time to visit the shelter.
"Not only is it great exercise for the person and the dogs, it will also socialize the dogs, which is very important for adoption," said Shaw.
Take a class
Attending classes is a fun way to work towards your fitness goals. It sets a time for your work-out so you'll be more likely to schedule it into your day; you can go with friends, or make new friends in the class; and you have an instructor there to guide you for less money that it would cost to hire a personal trainer.
Find a gym that offers classes, such as Advanced Fitness Center, which is also the only fitness center in town that is open 24 hours. You can also try calling your local church to find out if any aerobics classes are offered. If not, be the first to organize one.
Sign up for a fund-raising event
Participating in fund-raising walks or runs is great because it's rewarding in other ways, beyond improving your own health. It's a group activity, like taking a class, but you're also doing something good for your community.
Some local events to get involved in are Walk America in May at the Greenwood Leflore Hospital, which benefits the March of Dimes; or if you want to plan ahead and start training now, you can sign up for the 300 Oaks Road Race in September. This event includes a 10K run, a 5K walk and a one-mile fun run.
If you can't wait that long, check out www.mstrackclub.com/cal_2007.htm to find more events in near-by cities.
Spend some money
If nothing else will motivate you to get moving, then invest some money in your personal fitness. Spend some of your hard-earned cash on new work-out clothes, a gym membership or personal training sessions. It might sound material, but once you've spent it, you'll want to exercise just to keep your money from going to waste.
Remember, do whatever you have to do to make yourself exercise. The important thing is to stop making excuses and just get moving.
