The Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies (118 page)

Now, think back to any movement that has been enjoyable for you. What types of activity bring you to a pleasant emotional state? I must admit — I have a little exercise resistance myself. I'm really not a gym person, but I absolutely love to swim. I'll go swimming for the pure enjoyment of it anytime. That's the type of activity you want to find.

Make a list of enjoyable activities and try them out.
Focus on the sheer enjoyment of an activity so you can really connect with how it makes you feel. Start by making a list of activities that sound fun to you and then think about how to make them a realistic part of your life. For example, if you want to get into walking but live in a busy area with limited sidewalks, begin to research how, when, and where you can go walking. Then make sure you have comfortable shoes for the task. Last on the list — enjoy your walk!

Practice a little reverse psychology by denying yourself any exercise at all (even walking) for two weeks.
This is a crazy thought, I know, but often when you deny yourself something, your mentality shifts and you begin wondering when you can incorporate that something again. When you cut out exercising, you literally miss the activity, which helps change any negative feelings you have regarding it. Trust me when I say that this tactic works! I had to be on moderate bed rest during my pregnancy and couldn't believe how much I yearned to go on a simple walk or hike.

Try new activities that sound fun.
The important thing is that you find an activity you enjoy doing. If you enjoy walking or exploring, try going for a hike. If you enjoy dancing, take a dance class or turn up your favorite music and dance in your living room with your kids — they'll love it! See the following section for some additional tips for discovering exercise you enjoy.

Think outside the box.
When I was young, I didn't excel at sports, but the one I always looked forward to playing was kickball. I was discussing this subject with a friend one day, and he said, "Let's start a kickball team!" We did, and it was so fun to get together with friends and enjoy this type of movement. What activities can you think of that apply movement in a nontraditional way for the pure fun of it?

Finding what you enjoy

You may not have exercise resistance (see the preceding section), but you may not be dying to go to the gym or take an exercise class either. The trick to f
inding the type of exercise you love is that it must be something you want to do for other reasons. For some people, the gym is it. My friend absolutely loves the gym and feels it's her home away from home. Personally, I like being in the great outdoors and prefer to hike, walk, or swim.

I always say my grandmother was the best example of someone who truly enjoyed activity for many different reasons. She swam every day in the summertime just because she enjoyed it. She walked to the grocery store because it was a nice day and she saw no point in driving such a short distance. She was on a bowling league to socialize with friends, and she gardened as a way to be outdoors on the weekends. I never heard the word
exercise
come out of her mouth. She did these things because she enjoyed them, but she was able to stay in shape at the same time.

When you engage in an activity that you don't necessarily like or that doesn't provide you with some other benefit, you likely won't stick with it for long. Whenever you exercise simply to lose weight, it can feel like a chore. On the flip side, when you engage in an activity because you love it or because it provides you with some other benefit, you're much more likely to keep at it. Some examples of additional benefits include the following:

Walking with a friend or family member to unwind and vent about your day

Doing an activity like swimming or bike riding simply because you think it's fun

Participating in a group sport like softball because you enjoy competition and a challenge

Using your walk to find a little quiet time alone

If you can't think of an activity you know you enjoy, then try out some new activities until you find the right fit. Granted, the activity you wind up enjoying the most may not provide you with all the exercise you need, but it's a good starting place for incorporating more movement into your life.

Starting with small steps

I know many people get really motivated when they start a weight-loss program and want to jump in full force. However, when you do this with exercise, yo
ur efforts can backfire for several reasons:

You end up with extreme muscle pain from working out too much when you're unconditioned.