Today is Day 4 of my 31 Days of Self-Love posts to celebrate Self-Love Month with suggestions for jumpstarting your own self-love.

I work out in the gym with a personal trainer and only work with weights. From the beginning, I made it clear that I won’t go into the cardio room. I find the machines boring but I love lifting weights. So that’s what I do. And I get my cardio by running in Central Park. I learned a long time ago that the only exercise I’ll stick to is the kind I like doing.

If you have to force yourself to do s certain kind of exercise, you probably won’t stick to it.

Doing exercise is a loving act. It helps keep you fit. But you must be somewhat consistent in doing it regularly. The more you like what you do, the more likely you’ll be to do it. I love outdoor exercise. Even in the winter I’ll run as long as the temps aren’t freezing. If they are, I’ll power walk instead, but I won’t skip exercise. And I love lifting weights with my trainer. But cardio machines—no way would I stick to that! So I don’t do it.

Find the exercise you love and do it! Don’t let people make you feel guilty for not going on the treadmill or taking an aerobics class. If you love dancing—do that! Walking a good amount can also be good for you. The most important thing is to get moving in whatever way works for you. When you like it you’ll do it. If you hate going to the gym, you’ll look for excuses not to go.

Find the exercise you like and make it a regular habit–dancing, running, walking, yoga, jumping rope, roller skating, bike riding, etc. That says, “I love me!”
*********************

Take the 31 Days of Self-Love Challenge–a pledge to do something loving for yourself for the next 31 days–and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways for free at http://howdoiloveme.com. Read my 31 Days of Self-Love Posts from 2011 HERE.

Please leave comments under my posts so we can stay connected.

More from Beliefnet and our partners
Close Ad