I mentioned these 4 simple rules to keep you exercising at the end of my 30 Day Fitness Challenge, because they seemed like good rules to "keep you going" and continuing to make exercise a habit. I'm not going to recommend you do something that I'm not willing to do myself... so I've been following these 4 simple rules since then and I wanted to give you an update...it WORKS!

The key is to keep it simple. I'm finding that by following these rules, exercise has become just another thing that is a part of my week...it's become a habit. I look forward to it because I feel better....happier after my workouts because I know I've accomplished something that is good for me.

If you are just starting out and very new to exercise, my fitness challenge (click on the link above), which is a 30 Day Discipline, will teach you how to make exercise a habit. If you feel like you exercise intermittently and can't seem to stick to it....

I recommend following these 4 simple rules to keep you exercising:

Never miss a Monday. Simple, it starts your week out on the right foot. There's something to this...since I've been following this rule, it makes the rest of the rules easier to follow. (Now, if there is some reason that Monday's DON'T work, pick another day that you DON'T MISS.)
Never go 3 days without exercise. If you exercised on Monday, the longest you wait to exercise again is that Thursday. This is something that keeps soreness in check too! If you wait longer, it's like starting over....I was SO sore in the beginning of starting up again. I don't WANT to go back to that! That alone helps me follow this rule!!
Workout at least 3 days a week. This one kind of goes along with #2, because if you follow #2 this will happen naturally. Think ahead, plan your workouts on Mondays. I personally think of this one as some form of "strength training" rather than straight cardio or hiking...at least 3 workouts per week of some form of strength training.
Never give up. Once you make exercising a habit in your life and start seeing the results and feeling the benefits...you won't want to give up! If you have a setback...just move forward!

It's so frustrating to fall into the vicious cycle that so many women fall into! I used to start an exercise program....start out strong and motivated, and then all of a sudden I'd get busy...busy meaning lazy,...time would go by and I hadn't exercised at all because I didn't plan my workouts! Then I'd quit...until the next time. Sound familiar? These cycles will never get you the healthy results that will improve your quality of life! Since I've started following these "4 simple rules to keep you exercising"...I have stuck with it, easily!! These rules now dictate my workouts but my workouts are not dictating my life! They just fit right in!

Right now I go to a gym 3 days a week. Always on Monday mornings (rule #1!)...then 2 more days that week, spaced out at least every other day. For example, this week I've gone Monday, Wednesday, and I'll either go Fri or Sat. Easy!! I usually skip Sunday's because I go Monday's. There are usually about 15 people in my classes and today there were only two!! It was just me and another woman and our coach...it was cool because it was kind of like personal training! Find some form of exercise you love, try something outside your comfort zone that you've always wanted to try! Take a class, ask a friend or family member to try these rules too! Here's the gym I've found that is challenging me and I love it! The point is...get moving! Do whatever works for you, it's okay to start slow....as long as you START.

Most people exercise to look better. Start exercising to get healthier and happier. Exercising will not only improve your overall health, it boosts your mood substantially! Make that your focus instead of vanity and guess what...you'll end up getting the bonus of liking what you see.

"Everyone's healthy is different and that healthy should equal happy however you define it, NOT how someone else defines it." -Derek Flanzraich