Step One to a Successful Exercise or Weight Loss Plan

I’m reading this book, “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything.”

One of the first steps to influencing change is to identify key vital behaviors. The author mentions that the 3 key vital behaviors for successful weight loss are . . . . (drum roll, please) . . . .

1. Exercise on home equipment
2. Eat breakfast
3. Weigh yourself everyday

Now I could do entire blogs on each of these three, and maybe I will, but today I just want to talk about #1: Exercise on home equipment.

I have found that the more steps that are involved in getting to/or started at your workout, the harder it is to actually do it. I try to keep my WOWs simple and with minimal equipment for this very reason, but sometimes just getting away out of the house is too hard for some people. Basically the more accessible your workout or your workout equipment, the more likely you are to exercise. True exercise is hard, sweaty stuff. It’s not supposed to be easy so our little wimpy brains will look for any good excuse to “skip it for today.”

We’ve set up the back patio with a workout mat, a kickboxing bag, and a high bar (perfect for pull ups, pole climbs, hangs, and suspending our TRX). It’s just steps out the door and sometimes even that takes effort. Yes, even for me, the fitness freak. On cold days it’s a bit of a battle to get out there.

So, in order to make working out even more accessible, I keep a few vital workout tools right in my living room: my Power Wheel, my green mini-band, a kettlebell and a medicine ball. They aren’t sitting out in the middle of the room or anything, but they are close by. I don’t even have to hassle with walking out to the garage where I have a myriad of weights and exercise tools. No hassle equals no excuses.

Finally . . . and this one was recently found at Bed, Bath and Beyond, of all places, is our Iron Gym. Basically it’s a pull up bar that takes no installation. No drilling holes or putting in screws. You can put up or take it down in seconds, really. We put ours in the doorway of the hallway bathroom. For the last week I have been doing at least one pull up every single time I pass it. You can do 3 or4 different hand positions and you can even take it down and use it for securing your feet for sit-ups or for tricep dips.

No, I’m not getting a commission or anything for telling you all this. It’s just that it was such a great find. I’ve intended for the last year to be doing 20 pull-ups a day, as Dr. Oz recommends. Now it’s right there in front of me . . . many times a day. I’m positive I’m doing at least 20 a day now.

Here’s your challenge: Get your workout tools (at least one or two) accessible. Whether it’s in your living room, your bedroom, your backyard, make them easy to get to. Then commit to using them every single day.