3. Focus on the positive. Avoid looking at your exercise program as a way
to fix something that's wrong with your body. Instead focus on your
successes. Congratulate yourself after each workout. Thrive on the energy that exercising
gives you.
4. Develop a constructive attitude. Do not focus on what you are giving up to exercise on a
regular basis, but on what new options you'll have after you become fit.
5. Engage your body and mind. Connect on a deeper level, you'll be more likely to stay with
your routine. If your exercise time on a stationary bike
is your 30-minutes away from work or a time for reflection, you're much more likely to stick
with it. Individuals claim to experience an increased sense of creativity and an enhanced
thought process due to a regular
exercise program.
6. Consider many of the physiological benefits. If a strong and fit body isn't enough to keep you
motivated, consider some of the hidden benefits of exercise: lower blood pressure, stronger
heart, more efficient pulmonary system, lower risk of osteoporosis and stress reduction.
n It's Never Too Late . . . for Fitness
Most of us have very busy schedules and to keep our fitness level intact we have to be
extremely efficient. These three words, efficiency of effort, form the core of creating your own
home fitness center. Efficiency of effort means producing maximum gains with minimal time
spent; this is the goal of most of us when designing our home fitness program.
The bottom line is you must be creative and innovative to get the best results. With this
book and your own creativity a great workout is only a few moments away; a different grip on
the multi-gym, a varied stepping rhythm on the stepper, a new intensity on the stationary wind-
load simulator or a more rapid stroke rate on the rower. By varying your workouts you'll create
maximum gains in the shortest time frames.
As you will see, your home fitness equipment will allow you to reach your fitness goals and
prepare properly for a healthier lifestyle. Anyone who is serious about fitness – or for that
matter just improving their overall fitness – should have a few basic pieces of home fitness
equipment. It makes no
difference if you are a competitive cyclist or triathlete, an executive or someone trying to tone
their muscles, the home fitness center is the most efficient way to help you reach your physical
potential.
Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D., is author of the Complete Home Fitness Handbook, published by Human
Kinetics Publishers. It can be found at major book stores or you can order it by calling 1-800-747-
4457. He also serves as Director of the Exercise Science Program at the University of Colorado at
Colorado Springs.
n Suggested Readings:
Burke, Edmund. Complete Home Fitness Handbook, Champaign, IL., Human Kinetics Publishers,
1996. Book illustrates how to set up a home gym, purchase equipment and gives workout
programs for various pieces of home fitness equipment.
Anderson, Bob; Pearl Bill; and Burke Ed. Getting in Shape: Workout Programs for Men & Women.
Bolinas, CA., Shelter Publications, 1994. Offers information on how to set-up a balanced fitness
program of cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
Burke, Edmund. Precision Heart Rate Training. Champaign, IL., Human Kinetics Publishers, 1998.
Fine-tune your workout intensity. This book fully explains why and how to train with a heart
rate monitor.
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