Dan's Papers - August 1, 2008

When I was about nine I saw a Ziggy cartoon which read, "I'll procrastinate tomorrow." For years I wondered what "procrastinate" meant and now I know it all too well. Putting things off is a pastime of mine. In fact, I have put off writing this article until the last possible moment, but while the art of procrastination isn't hard to master, I'd like to help you get over the hurdles of not exercising, because as they say, there's no time like the present.

For every form of exercise there is a technique for avoiding it. Watching television is one of the easiest and most popular ways. So here's what you do: Get rid of your television! Yes, it sounds ridiculous - you'd rather get rid of one of your arms, or your first born, but television simply sucks all motivation from your body. Too extreme? Okay, let's try turning the TV off for a week. Put it in the garage, then take your newfound free time and make a list of your goals.

Do you want to be healthier? In better shape? One way that works for a lot of people is joining a gym, or a Pilates or yoga studio. Joining something, especially if there is a monetary commitment, can be a huge boost in getting your act together. Getting a responsible, motivated friend involved is also a great step. The key here is "motivated friend." If you have a penchant for procrastination and so does your workout partner, the chances of you getting yourself off the couch haven't increased at all.

Personal trainers are also great motivators. If you are scheduling individual sessions you're less likely to fail, if for no other reason then you are shamed into making the appointment.

Here's another idea: find something you enjoy doing. If the gym seems like a fate worse than death, then think of something that would be fun. Join a sports team. Softball isn't exactly a workout, but it can be a first step. Maybe there's a soccer league forming, maybe you loved swimming as a child. Get back to being a kid again and hit the water. Take lessons. If you feel ashamed of what you look like in a swimsuit try and overcome that. Proper form while swimming can really be all the difference in the world when it comes to getting all the benefits. If you can't think of anything, get creative. Find something that you've always wanted to do in life. Maybe you've always wanted to climb to the top of a Mayan pyramid or ballroom dance or be a lifeguard. There's no better time than now to start training.

The great thing about the Hamptons is there is enough specialization out here that you can find someone to teach you almost anything you want to learn. This leads me to the next step: set goals. Set an overall goal, but also have smaller goals along the way. Having an obtainable goal in sight will help keep you on your path and reaching each goal will hopefully propel you forward. When you reach each goal, reward yourself. Not with a fancy dinner, but with something that will help you along to the next goal - maybe a new iPod, a tennis racket or a book of dance moves.

Variety can be the spice of life and the thing that keeps you on your path. Changing your exercise routines are important because it prevents everything from becoming monotonous, but it also helps strengthen muscle groups in different ways, which will lead to a more balanced body.

Whatever fitness idea you come up with, be prepared. Get the right gear. "Look sharp, feel sharp, play sharp," my high school football coach used to say. Also, if you're heading to the gym after work, bring your clothing to work with you. Going home just adds temptation to your day.

If you're going to get in shape, you have to decide to do it for YOU not anyone else. Believe that you can follow a path toward your goal. Accept that this is not going to be an overnight change and understand that you will probably falter once or twice. The key is to acknowledge that you've made a mistake and then push forward, not tomorrow, but today. Questions or thoughts? Email mcleanstories@hotmail.com