photo credit: kevin dooley via photopin cc
Do you hate to exercise? Do you find yourself feeling anxious when thinking about joining a class, attending a gym orientation or starting a regular walking program? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, perhaps you are in need of an exercise perception makeover.
To make a long story short, you do not have to love something in order to do it. Mystery solved!
There is a big misconception in the fitness field that we have to LOVE to exercise. In my health and wellness coaching business, many of my clients don’t love to exercise – but they do it. My job is to help them feel comfortable with the notion of moving more and dreading it less. Oh, and one more thing – I teach them how to do it on their own. Yes, that’s right. I want my clients to not need me! Fire me! Leave me in the dust! Be free!
The following are tips you can try for your own personal exercise perception makeover:
- Try not to think about how much you don’t want to do it. Expect to have a good time and if that means telling yourself a little white lie, than do it! Set your mind for a positive experience.
- Find yourself an exercise buddy. There is nothing more refreshing than going on a walk with a BFF. You can vent, moan and groan all while burning those pesky calories and working up a sweat. You might just find that at the end of your walk you feel like a new person.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself. If you are not in the mood to exercise, try repeating this simple phrase, “anything I do is better than nothing at all.” Instead of having a preset distance or time to jog, just go out the door and begin. Get your mind off the time by listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks.
- If you find yourself feeling fabulous at the gym, give yourself a big yee haw! The person next to you, however, may be feeling the complete opposite. Look them in the eye and throw them a smile. You may just change the course of his/her day. Kindness is contagious!
It is these simple little steps that help get us closer to our own vision of wellness.
So let’s get going and have some fun.