The Lily Project. How do we help Lily exercise more? We will try a variety of methods to help Lily move more during the next few months. We ask clients 3 simple questions about their exercise frequency.
These are Lily’s answers to the 3 basic questions;
Do you think you exercise 150 minutes each week? The CDC recommends that everyone should exercise at a moderate level for 150 minutes each week.
Lily: It depends on the season and location. At college I feel like my activity adds up to that amount of time each week. But I’m not sure everything I’m counting is considered actual exercise. Most summers, I would say I do 150 minutes each week because I play tennis, swim and walk outside. During the school year, especially in winter, not so much. Although dance classes twice a week last year have helped.
What are the obstacles that prevent you from reaching the recommended exercise goal?
Lily: I am not good at scheduling exercise into my day. Laziness is part of it. At school, it doesn't help that the athletic center is far away and that at college there's a million places to be and things to do. I could exercise in my dorm, but scheduling is hard. Some days I don’t think I even have 15-20 minutes of spare time. Standard workout routines don't usually motivate me.
If you could remove all the obstacles, would you hit the recommended exercise goal? Or do you just not enjoy exercise?
Lily: I probably would hit the target, if I had enough time in my day. Once I do it I usually feel better at least for a bit. I don't always enjoy it but I also don't NOT enjoy it. I think time and motivation and other activities or things I'm doing are what get in the way.
