by Dan | Dec 31, 2012 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Here is a recent photo of scenery here in SD when the trees are all frosted. When you have scenery like this, it makes it much easier to get outside and exercise. This is the last day of 2012. Time to start getting our plans prepared on how we are going to help take care of ourselves, and be healthier and more active going into 2013. I just recently talked about maintaining your focus. Every once in a while you can look at the big picture to see how you are doing, but along the way, you may have to focus on some of details.
Those details can offer a lot of assistance in helping to overall keep us on track. Just remember, don’t get overly hung up on the small details. We have to find that blend between each detail, and the overall picture. At this time of year, you can’t focus solely on the weather. You just need to get out and get going. If we waited for the perfect day, we would never get started. So along the way, occasional look at the details, but stay focused on the big picture. In the long run, you will be much happier, and hopefully, be more healthy as a result. Happy New Years eve, and keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1822
by Dan | Dec 23, 2012 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
It is easy to get frustrated this time of year when it comes to trying to stay active. It is cold outside, and all the “white” outside can get kind of boring. You have to narrow your focus down. When you try to look at the big picture, it can be very daunting. It is too easy to say, “not today”. You have to pick out certain things as you are going to focus and concentrate on, and the task can be much more managable.
Narrow your focus, and your goals, to one thing at a time. See it for what it is, then focus and concentrate on something else. Before you know it, you have already gone further than you thought. If you focus just on the “cold”, or try to look or handle too much at one time, it is easy to quit, or worse yet, never even get started. Make that part of your New Years Resolution. “Chip away it things”. Don’t “bite” off more than you can chew. You need to make it realistic. Many of the times that we don’t succeed at our goals is because our goals are too far out of reach to be achievable. Break it apart. Work your way up to the “ulitmate goals” that you set for yourself, but make the path along the way in smaller increments. You will get there faster, easier, and with a much better attitude. Remember, the best things in life are not always the final goal or destination, but the trip you encountered getting there. Enjoy life along the way. Happy Holidays! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1814
by Dan | Dec 13, 2012 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
How do you get yourself motivated to exercise? This is a question i hear all of the time. For me, it is my escape. Time for me, to relax, think, however I want to handle it. Whether indoors or outdoors, both have advantages/disadvantages. With the snow out now, I definitely have to think a little more whether I run outside, especially with snow and ice, and with the bike trails covered, being on the road, and being safe. I often times find myself struggling to get motivated to keep going as well. I try to keep reminding myself how I feel when I do this, and this often times pushes me out the door. I always try to thing of something positive to go on as well.
Sometimes, you have to imagine you are away somewhere, and keep your thoughts of this. Especially if it is cold outside, it helps to think of somewhere warm. Your attitude is the majority of your ability to get moving. You decide to sit, or to move. Which would you rather do?
Keep your attitude moving in the right direction, and you will soon find your body doing the same thing. I said before in the classes we teach…this is not rocket science. If there was a pill that truly could motivate you to go and exercise, we would have it made. As I have said before, things in life worth having are worth fighting/working for. They mean so much more this way. Keep staying positive with the change in weather, and heading officially into winter. You can still exercise, but you have to think about how you are going to do this. Keep moving everybody.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1804
by Dan | Dec 2, 2012 | Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Well, we don’t have any snow yet, but the weather keeps changing, and keeps adding in some of these cold days. We got very lucky this weekend, reaching up and over 50 degrees yesterday and today. Take advantage of these days, and get outside and move. I saw many people out today doing just that: biking, walking, running. This is December! In South Dakota! Take advantage of them. Here one side of the lake the wind has blown to shove the ice that is developing. From the other side:
…More ice is seen, but leaves a very pretty design. We really do need the moisture, but at this point, there is nothing else we can do about that. We can make a change to get out and be active, and take advantage of what nature has given us. When temperatures are like this, it oveall does not make Winter seem so long. Keeping being positive, and keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1793
by Dan | Nov 11, 2012 | Exercise, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Well, the weather keeps changing, but we don’t have snow staying yet. Yesterday was at least relatively warm, but foggy and rainy. Then the wind came up, and now is very cold. All in all, this just makes it tough to stay motivated to exercise. You just have to realize the time we may be able to spend outside gets more limited, but we have other alternatives. We can do exercise indoors, whether we have our own equipment, belong to an exercise facility, or go walking in the mall. I know I just feel better when I can still exercise, but there is nothing like being outside when it is nice. I have to keep coming up with other things for me, or at least reminding myself, why I keep exercising. I have to continuously focus on this, or it would be too easy to just say “forget it”, and “I don’t feel like it”. I feel worse if I don’t do it.
So, as hard as it may be to do, you have to keep reminding yourself of the positives with all of this. Yesterday, Steve and I went outside for a long run. Yes, it was foggy, rainy on and off, BUT…it was relatively warm, and essentially no wind. It was a very relaxing run. Felt very good, and felt even better after we were done. Sometimes you may have to dig down deep, but keep looking for those positives. I think this will be a good time to start to refocus on motivation aspects to help get us heading into winter, and to keep going. I am no different than all the rest of you. I have to keep myself motivated as well. Keep your chin up, keep looking ahead, and keep moving everybody.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1872
by Dan | Oct 7, 2012 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health
Autumn is upon us, and while we get to see all of the color changes appear, we also have to start getting ready for the weather changes, and for the cold to start approaching. This week has given up a taste of the cold that will be coming again. This is where you need to focus on the scenery around us, and take advantage of the good days, the warm times when they do arrive, and get outside, and see things such as this.
Scenes such as this make it easy to get lost in your thoughts, and not even realize you are out exercising. Take it all in. This is a great time to relax, think, and get activity into the day.
So, “whether or not” you think you have time, take advantage while it is still relatively nice, and get outside, and enjoy the Autumn season. Sooner or later, the weather will dictate what we will be able to do outside, and “weather or not” we will be out, or do exercise and activities inside. I will always be an outdoor person. It is much easier to get outside and exercise, than to be “cooped” up inside. So everybody, get out while the going is good, and take advantage of it. Enjoy the view! There really is a lot to see here!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day: 1837
