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Fitness: Staying Active
Your reasons for wanting to stay active are really important. Knowing your reasons may help you keep going. What makes you want to stay active?
- You want to stay healthy.
- You enjoy being active and how it makes you feel.
- You want to control your weight.
- You want to set a good example for your family.
- Your doctor told you that it's important for your health.
- You have another reason for wanting to do this.
It’s not always easy to make activity a regular part of your life. But taking the time now to really think about what motivates or inspires you will help you stay with it.
Tips for staying motivated
- Take 15 minutes, sit down with a pencil and paper, and write down all the reasons you can think of for wanting to stay active. It may help to see them written down. Hang the list up in your kitchen, bathroom, or maybe at work—someplace where you will see it every day.
- Think back to when you first started to become more active. Did you notice a difference in the way you felt? Did anyone else notice a difference? Write down any positive responses you got and hang them up too.
- Put up a photo or a quote that inspires you. It can be something that you find in a book or online. Or maybe a snapshot of you and your family playing sports or doing some other activity together.
Test Your Knowledge
It's harder to stay active when you're not clear about why you want to do it.
TrueTaking the time to really think about what motivates you to stay active will help you stay with it.
FalseTaking the time to really think about what motivates you to stay active will help you stay with it.
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Fitness: Staying Active
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 4, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Heather Chambliss, PhD - Exercise Science | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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