5 Ways to Stop Hating Exercise.
Why is it that some people magically turn into a Lorna Jane spokeswoman the moment they begin a healthy-life journey?
Whilst some can find the shift extremely challenging, working their butt off for 12 months and still dreading the drive to see their trainer, others just ‘get it’ and make it all seem so easy.
After 13 years of personal training and thousands of sessions, behavioral differences in people start to become extremely clear.
For the purpose of this article we’ll categorize people into 3 areas;
a) Not exercising. Not interested.
b) Exercising, committed to goal but finding the process a constant struggle.
c) Loving the process and want to run over the grassy hills yelling how awesome life is!
The points below are mainly directed at those of you who fall into categories A & B and will give you tips on how to stop bouncing between them and gleefully move onto and stay in the meadows! If you’re one of the lucky ones that absolutely love exercise still read on. You may have a close friend or family member that struggles with the whole “healthy lifestyle” concept. This will help you connect better with them and perhaps, be more understanding.
1. You diet instead of just living a healthy lifestyle.
Just as quickly as you can be on something, you can be off it. Finding a plan that you can 100% commit to is key! Keeping in mind that 100% commitment does not mean 100% perfection, this plan can and should involve what you may perceive as imperfections.
Rather than trying really hard to cut out sugars or alcohol altogether, evaluate your month ahead. What do you have on? A couple of birthday dinner’s maybe? Allow yourself some freedom in these environments. Knowing that you have a non-guilt allowance will automatically result in you sticking to the plan around these events.
Eat based on environment and setting. As I say to my personal clients, “eating an ice-cream with the kids on a summers day is a nice moment but gorging on a tub to yourself alone on the lounge in unnecessary. “
2. Your default mode is set on unhealthy.
When life is running smoothly and things are going to plan anyone can be good but what happens when work stacks up, the kids are sick or your significant other, most likely a male (sorry guys), isn’t helping around the house?
What are your habits at this point? Do you exercise less? Do you snack on extra food whilst making the kids dinner?
Circumstances that cause unease will switch you into your default stress mode and push you back into your most engrained, generally unhealthy habits. There is awareness behind this and your body is trying to do what is knows will keep you alive, unfortunately this won’t help you fit into the clothes you want to wear this summer.
We cannot totally avoid this state but it’s important you react in better ways towards it and maintain healthier habits. The first step to this is awareness.
TASK: Write down the areas that you can feel overwhelmed in. What do you do in these moments? Then I want you to write a better alternative, something that you feel is achievable for yourself.
3. You see discipline as restricting not freeing.
Regardless of whether you aimlessly roam about your day or you live in a minute-to-minute organized routine, you are always in control. It’s common to feel a loss of control when attempting a fixed eating regime but ultimately this is the way to your freedom, let me explain….
The only real freedom is freedom of thought and where our attention is focused on during our waking lives. So where is your attention? How much time to do spend thinking about the things you don’t want in your life? Or how much attention goes to not liking the way you currently feel and look?
The more organized you can have your meal variations and frequency in check the less time you have to think about what to have and more importantly less time thinking about what you shouldn’t have done.
Don’t worry, you won’t lose control, your routine and disciple towards it is the ultimate mind-freeing tool.
4. You believe one meal can wreck your plan and one workout can fix it.
Once you start to make your patterns about an overall healthy lifestyle, you’ll find that occasional bad workouts and meals are just things that happen. The highest percent of the population aren’t always bang on target contrary to what you see through the Internet.
The good thing about living this pattern is that there is still space for life’s little pleasures just without the guilt.
This pattern of guilt catalyzing motivation is a slippery slope; if you require guilt to continually motivate you then you will constantly fail. Short bursts of perfection are not sustainable; consistency is the key and will always win in the long run.
5. Your social circle isn’t living the lifestyle you need to.
Ok, this point isn’t about blame; it’s about you taking ownership of your current environment and then changing it, this includes your friends.
Look for people that pull you towards the habits that fit in with your goals and spend less time with those who don’t. I’m aware this seems extreme, you’re probably thinking, “ok, so I just go ditch all my friends?” Not necessarily or maybe, depending on your group. This point is one of the most important factors in achieving success and understandably, fear of loss can be a huge barrier but if you’re not absolutely happy then there is room for changes and you need to make them.
These points are designed for you to make some vast changes in your life; some will resonate more than others. For those that do, narrow your focus towards them and make them stick.
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