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People tend to be much more enthusiastic about a program while they are still in it rather than after it is over. For example, people often get very excited during motivational seminars and then never use the strategies that were discussed. Similarly, people often finish a cardiac rehabilitation program (with all the one-on-one attention, the support from fellow participants and the cheering from the healthcare professionals) but have trouble continuing to exercise and follow the dietary prescription on their own.
The American Heart Association offers some good tips to people who are having trouble exercising on their own. People are encouraged to:
- Avoid the temptation to completely give up on exercising just because they missed a day.
- Either join an exercise group, or start a walking group in their own neighborhood.
- Find ways of being more active during the day, such as parking a little further away from the store and getting a good walk across the parking lot.
- Make exercise a routine that is done on the same days at the same times.
- Try different types of exercise: swimming, biking, walking, water aerobics and so forth.
- Pace themselves, without pushing to the point of chest pain or severe shortness of breath.
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