(BlackDoctor.org) -- The most popular New Year’s resolution among black men and women is to lose weight. We start January with high hopes of big success, only to find our motivation dwindling in the weeks to come. What happened in the intervening weeks?
A simple thing called "exercise burnout," most likely. While many believe the faster and harder they exercise the better—in reality, this can lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Overtraining can cause loss of appetite, lack of progression, extreme fatigue and even recurring injury. The mind, too, needs time to adjust to exercise. For many, the thought of exercising every day becomes a chore, and that's when many people quit.
Stay on Track
If exercising is new to you, start out slowly, gradually building up to a reasonable routine. Beginners should keep with the same routine for a couple of months. At first, you will notice physical and mental changes until eventually your body adapts to the routine and hits a plateau. At this point, it's time to add variety to the workout by using different machines or adjusting frequency, intensity and time spent exercising.
If you're carrying extra weight, physical activity is going to be more difficult for you than for someone else, so be realistic in your goals. Be sure to go in with the proper mindset. Realize that you won't see results overnight. It takes time to get into shape. Weight loss occurs gradually over time, so don't get discouraged if the scale doesn't show a big drop after one week of working out.
Set a Realistic Schedule
While everyone's situation is different, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend aiming for moderately intense cardio, 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week (or vigorous cardio 20 minutes a day, three days a week) plus 8 to 10 strength training exercises at 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise, twice a week, to maintain health. (For weight loss, 60 to 90 minutes of exercise a day may be necessary.) These guidelines are for healthy adults under age 65.
If exercise is new to you or if you have an existing health problem, consult with your doctor before beginning an exercise program. A beginner should start at the low end of the recommendation. Consider two 20-minute sessions per week and aim to increase the time each session. Alternating between two or three different cardio machines during a single workout is a good way to avoid physical and mental fatigue.
Choosing a time and place that is easy and convenient will also help you maintain a successful exercise schedule. Tracking your progress on a chart may give you extra motivation as well. Research shows that graphic feedback about our performance tends to be even more effective than written or verbal feedback, probably because we can see our improvements over time.
Most importantly, find something you enjoy. Before long, the dreaded chore of exercise might become something to look forward to. The endorphins your body generates when you exercise will surely give you the encouragement you need to keep working toward your goal.
