Exercise for me is a necessity, it’s not about losing weight, getting a six-pack or thigh gap, it’s all about how it makes me feel. After a period of not working out, I feel sluggish and tired and generally blah. Moving my body and getting those endorphins pumping really helps me to feel fabulous and energised, but it hasn’t always been this way.
Last week, I shared my personal battle of feeling like a fraud as an advocate of the body positivity movement and this has prompted me to open up more about my wellness journey. Today I thought I would dive in with my relationship with exercise as it’s undergone a transformation over the past few years.
I’ll be honest with you, my mindset was completely effed up where fitness was concerned and I was a slave to the gym. Generally, my routine would revolve around cardio (because that’s the gateway to being skinny, right?) and I was hitting the treadmill 6 times a week, whether my poor body was exhausted or not. On top of this was the tremendous guilt when I didn’t manage to squeeze in a workout and would compensate by eating less and depriving my body of what it really needs. Typing this out reminds me of how naive I was and how consumed I had become by the diet culture.
Exercise was a form of punishment if I’d eaten too much the night before. Additionally, when I missed a workout I would lift heavier weights or work my body even harder in the gym to overcompensate for the lost workout. Going to the gym back then was about wanting to lose weight (that I didn’t need to lose) or fit into my clothes that I had outgrown. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and feeling good about yourself. I champion anyone who is on a journey to a healthier version of themselves with the fierce desire to love their bodies.
Here’s the thing, I wasn’t working out to become healthy, my mindset was totally geared to working out as much as I could because being smaller equaled happiness. I thought I had to and it was the only way that I would feel fabulous again. Going to the gym and training hard under the pretense of wanting to get fitter actually concealed the damaging relationship that I had with my body. If you’re practicing a routine of unhealthy habits and hiding them under the veil of wellness that’s just one long road to self-sabotage and a broken relationship with your body – you need a reality check!
It’s taken a lot of mindset work, but I’m in a better place. I’m much kinder to my body and treat it with the love and respect that it deserves. This is the only body that I will ever have, so it’s my responsibility to care for it the best that I can. Most certainly, there are times when I’m still getting it wrong, it’s definitely a work in progress. However, identifying where I went wrong has allowed me to heal my relationship with my body and has helped me get to the place that I am today.
Sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t fit everything into our day. This is OK, we haven’t failed ourselves. This is just reality and there’s no reason in this world that our bodies should take a beating as a result. I wish I had acknowledged all of this back then because it would have saved me lots of anxiety and body image issues and allowed me to enjoy my life instead of focusing aesthetics. Seriously, is putting on a couple of pounds or missing a workout the worse thing that can happen in this world. Simple answer; hell no!
With running my business, a husband, and a spirited toddler, working out can sometimes take a back seat, but I’m OK with this because my priorities have changed. I’ve given myself the permission to be flexible, reign things in and focus on other important aspects of my life. Exercise will always be there and I know that I will return to it when I can. I’m not going to shoehorn it into my day when I don’t have the time because I will hate every minute of it.
Life is far too short to be doing something that isn’t bringing you joy. Just because I’m not working out as much as I used to that doesn’t mean that I’m going to pile on the pounds overnight, let’s be real here. Currently, exercise looks like a 5 minute yoga routine to stretch in the morning and 2-3 gym workouts a week. I haven’t had a gym membership for over 2-years and I’m really enjoying feeling the sweat on my face again. There’s the difference, I’m actually enjoying my gym workouts and they’re bringing joy to my day. If I have to miss a workout, I’m OK with that because I know the world isn’t going to come to and end if I have to prioritise something else.
I’ve really found a groove with my exercise routine that works for me, however, that’s not to say I won’t feel differently in a few months time. If and when my current routine isn’t enriching my life or bringing me joy that’s when it’s time to check in with myself and change things up.
Exercise shouldn’t be punishing or grueling, it should be something that you enjoy doing. It’s definitely worth taking the time to find your favourite way to move your body. This may not be the gym, but a long walk in the countryside, running, dancing, yoga, rock climbing, or even swimming lessons — swim schools like Steady Swim School run structured lessons for children and adults at residential condominium pools — whatever it is, embrace it and love it!
If you feel that you need more balance in your life, I will be running my FREE Balance Bootcamp starting on Monday 12th June. To find out more details and to reserve your spot click here.
I agree life is way too short to be doing something that you do not like! I like the sound of keeping a routine where balance is key xx
Absolutely, no point in wasting time doing something that you hate.
Great post! I tried to start running when my youngest was only a few months old, he would sleep in the pram! I completely overdid it too soon post partum and since then I’ve just been doing as much walking as I can – I can feel my strength returning, and one day I’ll be doing gym workouts again!
I love that you are now taking your time and waiting for your body to regain it’s strength.
I love this, I was always a swimmer, there is something so freeing about getting in the water and reaching your arms forward and pushing forward. Even now with my limited mobility I like getting into the water, I feel more free it in than I do out of it.
Lovely to hear that you’ve found a way to move your body in a way that you love.
I’m trying to get back into my exercise routine, i’ve been quite lazy with it lately
Take your time, you will get there. 🙂
Keeping up a healthy lifestyle is just good as maintaining healthy mindset. Indeed having a regular exercise is really recommended for everyone. We need to include it to our daily routines.It is not necessary to over workout, what’s important is at least a 5 minute workout or your sweat it out.
Yes, regular exercise is recommended and great when you find something that you love doing.
Great post! Finding something I enjoy means I’m more likely to stick to it. My training has been a little bit all over the place lately – mainly due to family and work commitments. I’m looking forward to returning to a regular routine soon though.
Exactly! If you enjoy it then it’s more likely to become a habit that you enjoy.
It definitely helps to have a routine but life can get in the way, I think that’s why Park Run works for me, because it’s the same time every week and fixed into my weekly schedule
I still need to try a Park Run. They look like so much fun.
For me it has to be swimming, I do about 2 hours a day 🙂 x
Wow! I haven’t been swimming for ages.
Exercise should be enjoyable or it just becomes a chore and life is too short for chores – thats why my mummy hates the gym as she used to feel guilty for wasting money and not going regularly
I agree, take that guilt away be ending your gym membership. I did the same thing.
I love my time in the gym, my time to look after me and the feeling after is wonderful, I really miss it if I can’t get for some reason x
Love that you have a balance and routine that works for you.
Great post. I think the gym “tyranny” focus on achieving the perfect body puts so much pressure. Exercise should be enjoyable and healthy in all ways.
Raquel xx
Thanks Raquel, that’s so true.
Great post. I joined gym all for the same reasons. To make me feel good.
Thanks, Madeeha.
I actually loved reading this, as I too went through a period of hitting the gym every day, sometimes twice and although my stamina and strength improved, I didn’t get any smaller which is why I joined up in the first place!
Wow! Twice a day is hardcore. It’s amazing, isn’t it, to think that you went twice a day to get smaller but didn’t. Anyway, lovely to hear that are gentler to your body.
I couldn’t agree more! I truly believe it’s all about finding the perfect balance! 🙂
Balance is where it’s at!
Moving your body is so vital. It does so much for your mind, body, and soul. I am not a runner or work out hard, but even walking helps me clear my mind and makes me feel more balanced.
A gentle walk can be just as good for the mind and body as a run, even better for some.
It’s such a hard mindset to get out of though! I bought a heart rate monitor years ago and would monitor how many calories I burned and didn’t listen to my body, I would just push and push and push until I hit the magic number and that would dictate what I ate for dinner that night. I had to cut exercise out pretty much completely to get out of the mindset but now I’m gradually introducing back exercise that I love (cheeky plug, there’ll be a new series on my blog in the next few weeks)
Thank you for sharing your story. I will look out for your new series, sounds great!