The No-Willpower Exercise Plan

Learn how to make exercise a daily habit and not a chore. Here is how to plan your exercise routine so there's no room for excuses.

The truth is, people who stay faithful to their exercise plans don't actually have any more willpower than people who don't stick to exercise. What they really have is habit. A routine that is part of their every day. Exercise for them is like brushing their teeth in the morning. They don't waste a single second making a decision about it. They just do it.

Studies have shown that when people have lost weight and acquired an exercise habit, they are more likely to stay trim than people who try to keep the pounds off through dietary changes and calorie counting alone.

Turning an exercise routine and all of its benefits into a permanent part of your life is a matter of housekeeping your priorities, setting up a schedule, and toning up your motivation. Here is a four-step plan.

Steps 1 & 2: How to Make Exercise a Priority and Find the Time

Steps 3 & 4: Assign a Time and Do It

How Long Until it's a Habit?