25 Tips to Maintain Your Exercise Routine

Ease Into It

When you're just starting out, you don't need to go too fast, too hard, or for too long. Make your exercise enjoyable, and set realistic goals -- that's the way to start a lasting routine. You can always increase the intensity of your workout later.

Warm Up You can't go from zero to 100 immediately, especially in an old car ... if you catch our drift. In your daily routine, be sure to get your heart rate up gradually. Do some stretching and some warm-ups. You'll be less likely to injure yourself, and more likely to have a good time.

Increase Gradually As your body gets used to a certain level of activity, slowly increase how much you exercise. To make progress, you need to keep increasing your level as your body adjusts. Make changes to your routine gradually, and only every two weeks or so.

Schedule Workouts Make appointments with yourself to workout, just as you would with any other appointment. And make it the most important appointment on your calendar -- more important than a doctor's visit or even the manicurist.

Be Nice to Yourself

When you accomplish a goal, reward yourself. Rewards work best if they are frequent in the beginning. Be self-indulgent!

Do a 30-day Challenge Set a goal for what you want to accomplish in a month and challenge yourself to reach it. Working with a group or your significant other will help you stay motivated and focused.

Broadcast Your Intention

Write about your exercise routine on your Facebook page, in your blog, on Twitter, in emails, and in your Journal. There's nothing more motivating than positive public pressure. Step it up by making a promise to your readers that you will commit to this goal for a month, and post your results every day.

Have Fun

This should be obvious. If you enjoy yourself, you're more likely to continue exercising. So find a routine that you can have fun with and will look forward to.

Fuel Up

You can't get very far on an empty tank, and your workout won't go well if you have an empty stomach. Don't work out right after eating either -- you'll just feel weighed down. Eat a healthy snack like a banana or some peanut butter on toast an hour or two before you exercise.

The Buddy System Find another person at your level and make regular appointments to workout with them. Having a friend around will make exercise fun, and making appointments will ensure that you don't skip your exercise.

Just Lace Up Your workout is the last thing your should be stressing out about, so don't over-think it. Just lace up and head out the door. That's all. After that, let nature take its course. Just relax and do what comes naturally.

Alternate If you do a hard workout today, rest or go easy tomorrow. Don't do two hard workouts in a row. The hard-easy approach can also work within a workout itself -- run hard, then run slow, then run hard ... you get the idea. This allows you to burn more fat than if you just run medium the whole time.

Get Strong

If you're a walker or runner or cyclist or swimmer, you should also fit some strength training into your schedule. Nothing too intense, but by incorporating core-strengthening exercises into your routine, you'll help prevent injuries and improve your body composition.

Stay Rested

If you don't take time to rest your body, you run the risk of burning out and getting injured. Rest is just as important as the workouts in improving performance and fitness. Just don't get too comfortable!

No Pain, No Problem

Forget "no pain, no gain." You're not trying to break records or get yourself hurt -- you're just trying to get in shape. Gradual progress is great. Take it easy and enjoy your workout.