Morgan HolbenHow often do you dread going to the gym or think that you NEED to do that spin class your sister keeps raving about? There isn’t a one-sized-fits-all to exercise. Exercise also doesn’t need to be this structured thing. Here are some tips to love the way you move:
DON’T WORRY ABOUT NEEDING TO EXERCISE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME
60 minute workouts are overrated, and if you’re in the gym for 3 or more hours…you might be crazy. You can have such an effective workout in 30 minutes, but if it’s only 25 minutes, that’s fine too. Stop fixating on needing to workout for “x” amount of time, and listen to your body instead.
LOOK AT YOUR NON-EXERCISE MOVEMENT
Movement is movement. Maybe you add short walks after your meals, maybe you park further away in the parking lot, do some stretches at your desk. Movement doesn’t always needed to be structured workouts. Think about small ways you can add small bursts of movement into your day.
FIND MOVEMENT THAT BRINGS YOU JOY
If you hate the gym, stop going! Maybe you’d rather join a kickboxing studio, or start doing dance workout videos from youtube. If you haven’t found a type of exercise you enjoy, stop thinking about exercise as exercise and think about what movement you enjoy. Do you like hiking? Do more of that. Instead of doing the exercise you think you need to be doing, do the type of movement that nourishes your body and soul.
AND LAST BUT MOST CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, STOP WORKING OUT FOR WEIGHT LOSS
While weight loss could potentially be an outcome of adding exercise, it should not be fueling your desire to do so. Workout for health benefits, increased energy, a better mood, but PLEASE not because you want to lose weight. You will find longer term success when the focus is NOT on the scale.
In what ways do you LOVE to move your body? I’d love to hear your answers in the comments!
All such great points! Exercise became way more fun when I stopped trying to be a runner, which I just don’t enjoy.