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Motivated to Keep Walking, Part 1

(In this two part article, we’ll take a look at the reasons why many people start walking programs, only to lose motivation and not maintain the workouts for the long-term.)

So, you’ve decided (again) to start a walking regimen, either to try shaking some of those excess pounds or for general fitness purposes. You’ve been at this point before though, and weren’t able to keep yourself motivated in order to extend those good intentions more than a week or two before giving up on it.

“It’s too hard”

“I couldn’t find the time…”

These are the most common reasons that people who have started a walking regimen note as being the reasons they weren’t able to maintain the activity levels. One of those lines probably passed through your head before giving up on walking activities in the past. You swear that this time will be different… You go out and spend good money on a high quality pair of comfortable walking shoes and some new sweatpants or walking shorts and get ready to try it again.

But how do you make “this time” more lasting…and effective than the times before?

Self-motivation is a tricky business, because all of the conflicts involved are internal, and it’s you battling yourself. Winner-take-all, with the loser probably ending up sitting on the couch with a bowl of Ben and Jerry’s. You can avoid this fate though, if you just take some steps (all puns intended) to ensure that your walks are more interesting, more enjoyable…more appealing.

Here are a few areas to consider before getting started:

Where are you walking?
Cue the “I got bored” excuse… Now stuff that back in your subconscious pocket, because there’s an easy way to get past the boredom aspect. The answer is simply to stop walking in familiar places. You know your neighborhood well enough at this point, so why would you want to spend a half hour or an hour walking around your familiar stomping grounds, looking at all the same old houses and scenery that you see every day already? I know, I know…it’s convenient to just walk out your front door, walk for a bit, and end up back home again. Sure, convenience is good, but it’s three strides past boring. Instead of the same old neighborhood walk, go find a different route! ind a nearby lake and walk around that. Golf courses and nature trails abound in most parts of the country, so you know that you could find a place to walk that you find interesting. Who cares if you have to drive 5-10 minutes to find it? If it keeps you from yawning over the tedium, it’s worth the effort.

Who are you walking with?
Too many times, people start a walking regimen by themselves, walk by themselves, and wonder why they got bored and quit after a few weeks. It probably had something to do with those folks getting bored with their own company. By getting other people involved, whether it is friends or coworkers, you suddenly turn that lonely walk into a social activity. If you are doing longer walks with one or more friends, you can even arrange it so that you have a “halfway point” break at a juice bar, or some other healthy establishment. This will break up the walk into two smaller, less intensive walks, and gives you another “fun thing” to incorporate into your workout.

In part two, we’ll discuss personal rewards and even more motivational tools to help you sustain your walking workouts!