Exercise: A Love-Hate Relationship

Say “exercise” and “resolution” in the same sentence, and you automatically think: “gym.” But the gym means many things to many people: an unnecessary luxury; a haven from the stress of work; a chaotic, stifling atmosphere populated by the fitness-obsessed; a reason to get up from the couch. Do you really need a gym to get your exercise? If so, what kind of gym should you choose? And what on earth will you do there?

New York Times health columnist Tara Parker-Pope discussed a survey in her blog, Well, that suggested that many consumers prefer local gyms to national chains; local gyms are frequently cheaper and often provide members with more attention. The quality of the gym experience can greatly affect the frequency of someone’s exercise regimen. Like a house, it must be the kind of place where you can see yourself spending a lot of time.

If you prefer to exercise in private, stop by the Well blog post “Rating Home Exercise Equipment,” which suggests that exercise equipment options are greatly improving.

Outside, the possibilities for exercise are even greater, and often free. New tools like Map My Run allow urbanites to find routes to walk, run or bike, and track their fitness progress. Unfortunately, some geographical areas just don’t seem conducive to maintaining an exercise routine. A recent article in the New York Times explores the association between a neighborhood and its residents’ fitness levels.

When it comes to exercise, a little is better than nothing. To learn how much your activities are benefiting your body, register for the free “Activity Tracker” on the USDA’s MyPyramid site. The tracker will also give you tips on how you can improve your exercise routine.

Your diet also plays a role in your exercise routine; it can greatly affect whether you even get out the door, how you feel during and after activity, and how you sleep. The bookstore is lined with diet books, making it hard to tell the true wisdom from advice offered by the wise guy getting fat on your money. Start by eliminating the (often beloved) foods known as the “worst in America.” The new book “Eat This, Not That!” can help you out here. Co-author Matt Goulding compiles a top-20 list of mouthwatering but unhealthy items to avoid, published on the Men’s Health Web site.

So what can you eat? Stock up on “superfoods,” those delicious, easy-to-find staples that are important to any person’s diet, no matter how much he or she exercises. Get a list of essential superfoods from WebMD.

Whether you’re headed to the gym or the park, you need motivation. But when the brain speeds ahead, the body can lag behind, and vice versa. Often the body is tired from a long day of work or a too-early start to the day. But as coaches, trainers, and athletes have argued for decades, exercise will actually make you less tired.

Paired together, sleep, diet, and exercise are the keys to good health—not only long-term health, but also a strong immune system that can tackle common colds and other viruses. Good physical health can be a lasting motivation to exercise. WebMD’s recent article on colds and exercise cites the American Journal of Medicine’s evidence that exercise improves the body’s ability to fight disease. The article says it’s generally okay to exercise when you have a cold, as long as you don’t “push your limits.”

For more inspiration for eternal exercise bliss, read the Runner’s World article, “Running Through the Ages,” which explains how to adjust and adapt your exercise routine in each of seven decades of life. Even if you don't run, this is a valuable source of guidance.

You've got to start somewhere, so why not online? FindingDulcinea's Fitness Guide has many more resources for tackling your spare tire, learning a new activity, or simply feeling good through exercise.