You are doing FABULOUS if you are riding every day, 6-10 miles, and you just started. I am a big believer in making tiny little changes, one at a time. The first one I advise to anyone is to get moving, just starting with a 10 minute walk if that's all you can do. You're already moving for about an hour a day, and that's just wonderful.

Make that daily exercise a habit, and eventually it will become a need. Aim for consistent exercise (even if it is not cycling every day, do something, anything, like take a walk or weed the garden or rake leaves).

The other thing I tell people is, "Consistency is your greatest asset." I don't know if I read that somewhere or it's someone else's quote, but I say it all the time so I'm going to claim it. But it's like this for me: I already know how to be consistent. I know how to do the same things over and over and over and never stray from the routine. The problem is that things I'm consistent with are not always good for me. If I can apply that great ability to be consistent to something that is good for me, I'm golden!

So, pick one thing that you can be consistent with. In this case, you've already picked exercise. Once that becomes a habit, make another tiny little change for you to practice your consistency. The next change could be about identifying any habit, circumstance, or situation that makes getting out to exercise a little more difficult (not having enough cycling clothes so you have to wash every night, and you really hate going in the basement to run the washer, for instance). You could decide to give up cheeseburgers (like my husband did).

One more thing, and this is related to intensity of the exercise. No matter what anyone says, how much they make fun of me or think I'm slacking or putting on, I'm not out there just for today, but for the health of the rest of my life. Therefore, I'm never going to do anything that will stand in the way of me being back out there the next day.

Change your thinking, change your life!

Karen