Exercising on Auto Pilot By Carol Solomon, Ph.D. MCC At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Fitness experts say that you can get 30% more benefit from exercise when you focus on the muscle you are working.

While it is true that you get more out of exercise if you focus on what you are doing, focusing is not necessary to gain benefits from exercise.

Sometimes I try to focus, but most of the time, it is all I can do just to show up for exercise, and not let other demands or distractions preempt my workout.

I focus on setting up my life to make exercise easy and habitual. In fact, I’d rather not have to focus on it. I get more done if I am talking to the people around me, and not focusing on the exercise itself. It can be painfully slow to focus on each move.

I don’t work out as much as some people do and I always wish I could do more. When I go to the gym, I always *wish* I was one of those women who go every day and work out hard. They always look so fit!

But I do try to get some movement in as many days as possible. I also want it to be as easy and painless as possible – to insure that I will actually do it.

I settle for less if I have to.

I don’t want to have to think about it.

There are many ways to do this. For instance, I go to a strength training class every Monday morning. I have to drive in the direction of the gym anyway to get to my office, so I just go to the gym before I start my appointments.

It’s a great way to start the week and I always feel great all day!

Since I only commit to that 1 class, I never want to miss it. Besides, it’s fun and easy since most of the same women go every week. I’ve trained myself to go and it’s a great habit.

So even when I don’t feel like going, I go anyway.

I can be mindless about exercise in some ways. I can hop on the treadmill first thing in the morning, insert music and off I go. The time goes faster if I just let my mind wander.

In fact, that’s one key to success – don’t think about it too much!

I understand that I may not get as much benefit out of it as I could if I were focusing on each stride, but that is a compromise I’m willing to make.

What you DON’T want to do is be mindless about eating.

I know – it begins as an early habit. You start out reading the cereal box as a kid and graduate to the newspaper as an adult.

Pretty soon, you are sitting mindlessly in front of the TV, eating in the car, and grabbing a quick bite at your desk while you work.

When you are on auto-pilot for eating, there is a cost.

It leads to eating more while being less satisfied, and gaining weight.

If you have to be on auto-pilot about something, let it be exercise!

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