My relationship with exercise has not always been healthy. The best way to describe it is a transactional relationship.
If I want to fit into a dress or an excuse to eat more crap, or worse yet, an event is coming up, I might be photographed. My natural go-to thought is I will work harder at exercising or I will walk it off in the morning. Which, being honest, never happens. Then the guilt and shame come, the cycle of why exercise is so hard, and the whole self-criticism or justification process kicks in!
The reality is exercise is not hard. What is hard is the ‘rule’ I have set for myself that exercise is hard, and it’s a form of punishment for letting myself go. I have never just exercised to move my body or even for fun. It has always been to lose weight. What is even harder to understand is when I do exercise, I love the feeling in my body. I love how good my body feels moving. But yet, the motivation required to move can be hard.
I was away recently with my husband at a resort hotel. The age profile ranged from young couples with small children to couples well into their 80s. It struck me that all sorts of people were extremely active in their 70s and 80ss. One couple went sea swimming twice a day, another couple did yoga every morning, some golfed, and some ran. Then some people had difficulty moving.
I just assumed I would be a healthy, active 70-year-old, but the reality is if I’m not moving now, what will I be like when I reach my 70s? Even in my 40’s, I am now experiencing stiffness and aches I did not have in my 20’s.
My relationship with exercise was rattled that week. How can I truly commit to exercise and make it more fun?
I needed to listen when I told myself you are not exercising to punish myself. You are exercising because it feels good and a celebration of what your body can do.
I set myself two challenges, one short-term and one long-term. The long-term challenge is I want to be an active 80-year-old. The short-term challenge is how I can bring exercise into my life now, so it is fun and a celebration of being able to move my body.
The first thing I have done is I’m volunteering at my children’s school. Every Wednesday morning, they have an active hour playing our national support. The school needed volunteers, so I signed up. I have to say I love it; I love that I have found a way of moving that I thoroughly enjoy. I love that my kids are seeing me move, I love that we are playing some of my childhood games, and most importantly, it’s fun to move.
The second thing I have done is re-activate my fit bit and ensure I get my 10,000 steps in daily. I have now dusted off the kettlebells and have a quick 5-minute routine I’m doing three times a day.
It’s a new start for me, and I’m developing a new relationship with exercise and slowly and steadily bringing movement back into my life.
I’m taking it slow and focusing on consistency.
So, I challenge you; if you don’t have a healthy relationship with exercise, how can you change this? If that does not get you – how will you be in your 70s if you’re not moving now?
Caroline
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