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.
If you need help getting going with your own program, or if you want to try approaching exercise in a whole new way, give me a ring. I’d love to help you figure out the mystery! Contact me at www.joyofactiveliving.com
So let’s get going and have some fun. Remember, we are in this together!