March 28, 2024

Ten Ways to Stick to an Exercise Program #4 – A Workout Schedule

“I will try and workout tomorrow.”   “I think I can this week.”  Those are the words of someone with great intentions attempting to start an exercise program.  However, when other things “pop up,” exercise is usually the first thing to go.  If you can relate, have you ever thought about writing a workout schedule for a week, as you would other appointments, and then place it on your calendar?

Let me give you a few examples. To ensure you do not forget, do you place the following on your calendar?

  • Lunch with a friend or business associate
  • Meeting with co-worker, boss or direct report
  • Hair cut or manicure
  • _______ (You fill in the blank)

Because they are important appointments and can’t be missed, you probably write them down somewhere so that you do not forget.  Exercise can be the same.  If it’s something that you really want to do, it may need to be planned out, scheduled and written down to keep that appointment.

Proverbs 21:5 says, The plans of a diligent lead sure to his advantage.

Proverbs 16:8 says, Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.

What this says to me is that God will honor those who are hard working and diligent with their plans and if we commit them to God, we will succeed.

#4 Number four this week in our top Ten Ways to Stick to an Exercise Program is to make a workout schedule and then put it on your calendar.

I’m curious, have you ever thought of this and how do you think it may work for you this week?  Keep me informed.

 

 In Good Health,

Crystal

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About Crystal Breaux

Crystal Bush Breaux -- Blog Contributor -
As a Wellness Coach and Fitness Designer, Crystal work’s with busy women to design an exercise and eating plan to fit their personal schedule and lifestyle. With over 20 years in the fitness industry, Crystal has worked in commercial fitness as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, an educator in corporate wellness, and in an executive leadership position in a hospital wellness center. She has a passion for teaching and encouraging women to have balance in their life physically, mentally and spiritually.

Married for 17 years to her wonderful husband Tim, she has two children, Hannah 9 and Zach 5. She and Tim serve in their church as small group leaders and in marriage ministry. Crystal loves spending time with her family and friends, running, teaching and coaching her daughter’s softball team.

To learn more go to www.yourfitnessdesigner.com and/or follow her on www.facebook.com/yourfitnessdesigner . For a personal Fitness and Food Design, you can email her at crystal@yourfitnessdesigner.com to schedule a free telephone consultation.

Comments

  1. The grand kids are going back to school next week and I will once again have time for myself. I have FAILED in the past to work up an exercise program that I have stuck with. I am a total flop when it comes to exercise, I HATE it that much, except for Tai Chi. But, I want to be healthier. I have already been on a Paleo eating plan since July 1st and I feel good. The weight is melting slowly and I know it will melt faster if I start doing workouts and moving more.

    I went back and re-read your other three posts and have made notes. Any suggestions for someone who HATES exercise of all types, except Tai Chi. I will be starting that back up again on August 22nd.

  2. Jackie, Good for you in getting back to a schedule once school starts. Look at exercise as a way to combine other activites with it and not as a chore. For example,
    Could you use that time to spend with a girlfriend during a walk or as your prayer time? What about calling someone as you walk? Once you get in a habit with that, then you can find the program for you that includes the right intensity and duration that will give you results. Once you start seeing more results, it motivates you to continue.

  3. Hey Crystal ~ no girlfriends to walk with but I do have a ton of podcasts that I listen to whenever I get a chance. I will probably walk outside until it gets too cold, then figure out times for the rec center. Thanks for your posts and your encouragement to us. Cannot wait to see what the next six steps are. Have a great weekend!

    • Jackie, if I lived near you, I would walk with you!! 🙂 Good for you on the Paleo diet. I’ve heard a lot about this eating plan, and have considered looking into it. Can you share an overview of the plan, here to give us an idea of what it’s like?

      • Christi ~ ahh shucks. I wish you lived closer. As for the Paleo way of eating, at first it appears to be really complicated and it can be. The science behind it takes a little bit of the learning curve, but short and sweet, simple explanation is no wheat (gluten), no legumes, no soy, no corn, and most of all no pre-made stuff with tons of additives. Some will say no dairy, but I do eat cheese and cottage cheese. I don’t like milk so cheese is about the only dairy I eat. It is truly all about eating whole foods, foods that you kill, pick or dig up.

        I make everything from scratch now and I have not be overly hungry since I finished detoxing as such. You get your carbs from veggies and a lot of protein. So far I have had lasagna, I make my own sauce and use zucchini in place of noodles. You can have homemade chili, just don’t put beans in it. As for oils, use coconut oil ~ unrefined for frying and organic refined for smoothies and salad dressings and of course olive oil. The whole concept is getting away from the toxins that the food companies are putting in our bodies and allowing them to work the way they were meant to. My blood sugar is normalizing so I don’t have spikes in the afternoon, I am sleeping much better, and I have more energy. I am sort of following Rob Wolf and Paleo Bites ideas and so far I do not feel deprived at all. I have been experimenting with coconut flours and have found a recipe for rolls that I like. My next adventure will be pizza crust. I have one cookbook that I just bought that has no gluten but uses sugar, and that is another one of my triggers that I have to stay away from. But there is a sweetener out there, expensive, but it does not spike blood sugar. It is Stevia put out by the Now company. I get it at Sprouts.

        I hope this helps. It is a different way of thinking but it still allows life to go on. I haven’t been out to dinner since I started the plan, but if I go to Red Robin, I will have a burger bun. I am not going to deprive myself totally of the things I truly love, but I do think about it and I act accordingly. Then I will go right back to eating Paleo again the next day. Even the nutritionist that I am working with agrees that if that is one of my favorites foods, one every once in a while is not going to throw my whole body off for long. He just does not recommend gluten in my daily diet.

  4. I hear so many women say “I just don’t have time for exercise”, when in actuality they are saying “I just don’t have time for myself”. I think it’s so important to address the issue of thinking we are not important enough to take care, or to put on “the list” of things to take care of. We truly need to see how important we are, and how important it is to take care of our selves…even if it’s just starting out with limiting snacks, or 10 min of exercise a day. There is no reason why we can’t squeeze in at least 10 minutes a day, and work up from there!

    • You are so right! What these people are saying is I don’t want. I know I have time for myself because I am on the computer WAY too much, I just don’t want to do it! I HATE exercise of all kinds. I am trying to convince myself that I am doing it for God because my body is His temple, so far it is not working. Myself is very stubborn and doesn’t listen to a thing I say. 🙂