December 16, 2012
From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) — An exercise physiologist from the Navy Physical Readiness Office encourages Sailors to make small changes to their exercise plan in order to maximize success.
Many people look at the New Year as a time to set goals and make grand resolutions to get physically fit. However, most resolutions fail within days or weeks. According to Lt. Cmdr. Austin Latour, an exercise physiologist with the Navy Physical Readiness Office, making small changes in an exercise plan now can make a big difference.
“The most important thing to do is write it down,” said Latour. “Make a plan, then write it down, it can be pretty simple, the days you’d like to exercise, how much time you want to put into it, what type of activity you want to do.”
Writing a plan down can be the key to success.
“Once you write it down you’re making a contract with yourself,” said Latour. “It’s human nature to want to adhere to a contract and actually do what you’ve written down. You should try some new things to find something that you like to do though. If you don’t like what you’re doing even writing it down won’t lead to success.”
It is important to work within one’s ability level and not get hurt.
“If you are not active now, start with some low-impact, non-weight bearing activities. If you are more physically fit you can do more weight bearing activities. If you are a beginner and you want to do a group activity start with a beginning group activity.
If you’ve been running for a long time and are comfortable with it consider a running club,” said Latour. “Take your activity beyond solitary exercise and include a friend so that you also have social interaction while you exercise.”
Having a buddy that has the same goals can help you stay on task.
“Having a buddy is a good idea but make sure they have the same goals as you do and that they will help keep you honest,” concluded Latour. “Writing out your contract and sticking to it gives you a constancy that helps to mitigate stress. If you take that, add the normal benefits of exercise and have a friend as your exercise buddy, you’ve got a winning combination.”