Home Mary's Journal Recipes Meal & Snack Ideas Restaurant Tips The Active Life Fittness & Exercise Guide Around the Web	Make your life active.   I know you already know but I'm just going to remind you. If you are following a dietary program to loose weight, you definitely need to add an exercise program as well. For a lot of people, its simply too much to start both at the same time. If this is the case, stagger a bit but don't wait too long. I only tell you what you already know and speak from experience. Sticking to a diet takes a lot of willpower and discipline. Get the most out of your efforts and reap the benefits of a combined physical and dietary program that together, will produce compounded benefits. Why you should exercise. Exercise improves our life in many ways, in addition to weight management. So why don't we do it. Exercise will improve our self-esteem, our happiness, our libido, our sleep, out metabolism, our physical condition, and relieves stress. Often we would rather eat less then exercise. Physical activity should be mandatory daily activity. Do it everyday or almost everyday. Focus on Strength and Form, not Weight. We should be proud of our muscles and not obsessed with our weight. We are addicted to the scale. We should focus on body shape and physical condition rather than how much we weigh. We should be building muscles and slipping into shapely outfits rather than letting the scale control our emotional well being. Look at strong and healthy bodies as positive examples and rethink your ideal body image. Motivate Yourself Motivation is personal to everyone. Try to think about how important it is to you to get in shape and recommit your self whenever you feel yourself slipping. Set weekly goals and long-term goals. Find a role model. Celebrate and share your accomplishments with others. Make your life active in everyway possible and enjoy your body. Learn to love the rush of physical exertion. Learn to love sweat and tired muscles. Fight Workout Boredom Set goals. Record your fitness Activities Find a workout friend. Sometimes a little camaraderie can help. Vary your activities to fight boredom. Increase your level of exertion in every day activities. Read and discuss exercise and training tips. Make fitness a hobby. Fight the monotony. If you don't like a lot of repetition find another routine. Think about the dilemmas in your life that require thought and decision making. It will get your mind of exercise and you will be amazed how much good stuff you come up with. Watch TV or listen to music at the gym. Reward Yourself Get a foot or body massage. Take a golf or tennis class or whatever strikes your interest. Get out there and try new things. Buy some new workout gear. Hire a personal trainer. Plan a workout date with a friend at the gym, on a hike, a game of tennis. Live a healthy life, take pleasure in your body. Work hard and enjoy the benefits of a healthy diet and physical activity. Include fitness into your daily routine. Focus on your strength, stamina and physical well being and not your weight. Motivate your self by thinking about your personal goals, both long term and short term. Be active and be healthy.