When it comes to exercise, there seems to be no middle ground. Most of us are either complete couch potatoes or fitness fanatics. While I’m certainly not a gym buff, I have learned to embrace exercise. It’s been a looooong journey towards a healthier lifestyle. I’m detailing my own (embarrassing) struggle to hopefully encourage others. No matter where you are now, it can always improve so please don’t lose hope!
To call my childhood “extremely sedentary” is an understatement. While the entire family was very focused on looks and weight, we never made fitness a priority. Certain adult members liked to play golf and I do recall a summer of tennis lessons for us girls, but for the most part, everyone just lazed around (and snacked, but that’s another story…)
One of my sisters, however, was a notable exception. She’s always been interested in the “concept” of exercise. That lady was the queen of buying infomerical equipment: Buttmaster, Thighmaster, Torso Track, Ab Cruncher, etc. And that was in addition to countless VHS tapes: Sweating to the Oldies, Cindy Crawford’s workout, and the entire collection of The Firm. There were also purchases made for various items like hand weights, ankle weights, LA Gear sneakers—the list is truly endless.
Thanks to my own personal Sporty Spice, it was hard not to join in. Every new purchase, bought with the best of intentions, was going to be the one that changed everything! (Sound familiar?) For a week, or maybe even a month, it would. Then, it was used sporadically, inevitably ending up back in the box or sat around gathering dust.
That was the set pattern in my teens and 20’s. I was ashamed of my body and unhappy with my weight, but not sure how to remedy it. I was very willing to diet, but not as committed to working out. So long as I could maintain a certain weight, I didn’t see the point. (Honestly, I didn’t really even understand why exercise was necessary until my next decade.)
When I turned 30, it seemed like my body and hormones changed overnight. Prior to that, I had never been sick. Afterwards, I began experiencing one health problem after another. I couldn’t sleep. I had terrible pain and chronic infections. Most days, I was home bound and sometimes even bed bound. My life was miserable, I was miserable, and I knew things couldn’t continue like that.
My weight, which had always been the most important thing, was barely even registering. Now, it was only about regaining my health. Instead of dreading exercise, I began to see it as a positive and my mindset changed.
I started reading everything I could on the subject. I experimented with anti-inflammatory foods, vitamins, and most of all, found the will to get up and move. Because I was feeling so sickly and because I was so out of shape, the beginning was hard! There were many tears. But every time I exercised, it was a teeny bit easier. Now, years later, it’s second nature.
All of these habits have helped:
1. Exercise daily
Skipping days makes me lose my resolve, so I try do always do a little something. I found that when I took “a day off” for whatever reason, that day turned into several days or even a whole week. Making sure I’m moving every single day helps keep the momentum going.
Right now my main exercise is walking. In an ideal world, I’d walk an hour daily. In reality, I’m happy if I can do 30 minutes. Another thing I enjoy is yoga. If I’m too tired to walk, I can still find energy to stretch. On my least motivated days, reality might be 15 minutes of prenatal yoga. (I’m not pregnant, but the prenatal routines are so basic/easy, it’s almost effortless.)
2. Track your progress
I like to record my exercise in a daily planner. Not only does it help me remember to actually do it, when I feel down, I can look back and count up how much I’ve actually done which inspires me. There are also tons of fitness apps, websites, and calendars available for those who prefer that. I’m old school with the pen-and-paper method. Try both and see which works better.
3. Don’t wait for “everything” to be done
It’s actually never convenient for me to exercise; there is always cooking, cleaning, shopping, blog work, etc.
I always had the mentality that exercising was one of those “extra” things, like computer time, talking on the phone, letter-writing, that sort of thing. I couldn’t pull myself away from the housework, meal preparation, and hustle of the household to go for a walk. There were (and are) constantly dishes to be washed, laundry to be folded, or meals to be made. I finally realized that the work would never be caught up to my satisfaction, and that it was all right to leave the kitchen a mess and get out for a walk and clean up later.
4. Have a support system
I love to walk, especially when my guy goes with me. Having an exercise partner can help you monitor your progress, provide motivation, and strength the bond. It’s also easier to show up when someone else is expecting you!
5. Don’t over-use the scales
Weighing—or tape measuring, if you’re doing that—only once a week is plenty. Don’t put too much emphasis on what the scale says. If you’re exercising and eating fairly well, it’s okay if you don’t lose 5 pounds all in one week, or even one month. Focus on how you feel, how you’re sleeping, how your clothes are fitting.
6. Be mindful of weather
Yes, this is often just an excuse, but for someone who deals with allergies/asthma like I do, it’s a real factor. Outdoor exercise in the summer when it’s super hot makes me want to weep. In the winter, it’s too cold. And if it’s rainy? Forget it! I’m just not in the mood. When the weather is bad, I do an indoor routine. That could be aerobics, yoga, the elliptical, etc.
For me, exercise isn’t about being the skinniest or the fittest. What I’m seeking is overall well-being. I want to feel healthy, increase muscle tone, not get out of breath, and have more energy. I also am very eager to fix my immune system and minimize chronic pain. Your goals may be different than mine. That’s ok! By sharing and caring, we can all help each other.
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