How can I motivate myself to exercise if I have heart failure?
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Dr. Nasir Sulemanjee of Aurora Health Care answered:If you have heart failure, try to vary what you do when exercising to stay motivated. This can help keep you from getting bored. Here are a few tips:
- If you exercise four times a week, do two of one activity and two of another. For instance, walk two times and bike two times, instead of all walking.
- Exercise with a friend or a group.
- Keep a log of your progress.
- Set small goals and reward yourself each time you reach a goal.
If you have heart failure, try to vary what you do when exercising to stay motivated. This can help keep you from getting bored. Here are a few tips: If you exercise four times a week, do two of one activity and two of another. For instance,... More -
Linda Rohyans of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) answered:Before engaging in activity, talk to your health care providers to determine what your level of physical activity should be. Many times, individuals can be referred into a Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Cardiac Rehab offers the motivation of "belonging" and identifying with other individuals with heart failure, as well as the motivation of achieving physical activity goals. Family and friends can also offer encouragement and even be "walking buddies."
Before you can really become "motivated" to perform any behavior, you must have a personal belief or perception that what you are doing is important in your life. Your health care providers will provide you with factual information on heart failure and the impact activity can have on your sense of well being and physical stamina; you will make the decision to exercise or become more active if it is important to YOU!
Another factor to consider when becoming motivated to exercise, is assessing whether you believe you have the resources and abilities to perform the exercises or activities and if you believe by exercising, you will see a benefit from you actions.
Individuals with heart failure should stay active and work with his or her health care team in designing an exercise program that is tailored to his or her specific needs. Even if you are not able to walk or perform moderate activity, you can actually perform meaningful exercise while sitting in a chair watching TV! By performing "foot pumps" (pointing toes up towards face and down towards floor), you are able to exercise the big muscles in your legs which can help the blood get back to your heart. Grab a couple of canned items (1-pound or so) and while you're sitting, just hold the cans and move your arms up and down; just do one arm at a time if you get tired.
Stay active! You'll feel better for it!
Before engaging in activity, talk to your health care providers to determine what your level of physical activity should be. Many times, individuals can be referred into a Cardiac Rehabilitation program. Cardiac Rehab offers the motivation of... More
