Congratulations! You have the leggings, the sassy tank and the shoes and you are ready to get FIT! But…then you did a quick internet search for fitness routines, got overwhelmed, and now you haven’t the first clue which one is right for you. So, how do you pick the perfect fitness routine? There isn’t a perfect one. Thanks for reading, see you next week!

All joking aside, there is truth in that statement. Fitness and workout plans are not one-size fits all (if you have found a plan that promises that be very cautious). That’s why when I start working with a new client we spend a lot of time talking about what movement, exercise and fitness means to them.

So let’s talk about the steps to getting you moving your body. Huge shout-out to the book Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program that Works by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. The chapter on exercise was a huge inspiration for this post.

Step #1: Separate working out from weight loss.

That’s a big statement right there. I am not here to say that exercise does not play a role is weight loss, it does, but if the only reason you workout is burn off that brownie you had at lunch, or to justify the glass of wine you had at dinner than that’s where I have an issue. 

I am here for any one that wants to work to improve themselves. I love lifting weights. I love the definition it can give my muscles. Some days there is nothing more satisfying than dropping a heavy barbell, but I do it to feel strong and feel like a badass. If a lifting program makes you feel like the best version of you then I will celebrate every gain you make in the gym right along with you. Love the rush of a good spin class, YAY! Enjoy the stretch and relaxation of yoga, perfect. Love shaking your booty in Zumba, rock it! There are a million different ways to be active, and life is too short to not do something that excites you.

My job as a coach is to help you get out of your head and into your feelings. Connect to how the exercise makes you feel. Do you feel energized after a workout or drained? Are you sleeping better? Does it help you deal better with the stress in your life?

Let’s re-connect to exercise as a way to take care of our minds and our bodies and less as a way to punish ourselves.

Step #2: Make movement fun.

I think I just saw you roll your eyes from here. I know it seems cliche to say (rhymed, ha), but any movement that feels enjoyable and gets your body moving is good (and likely something you will stick with).

Here’s an exercise to help if you are feeling stuck. Grab a pen, some paper and a timer. Set the clock for 5 minutes. Close your eyes and think back to when you were a kid/young adult/last year and remember all the ways you were active that made you smile, that you couldn’t wait to do again. What activities made you feel energized, confident, relaxed. Start the timer and free write. No activity is wrong, so don’t censor yourself.

When you are done take a look at the list and see which ones excite you now. This is the fun part! Now you get to add some fun into your activity routine.

Step #3: Find your people.

If Step 2 felt overwhelming and you still don’t know where to start, hire a coach. There are plenty of us out here so make sure you find someone who listens to you and who you feel comfortable with. They are helping you take care of your most important possession, your body, make sure you put your trust in someone who understands that.

If you don’t have the means to hire a private coach, then group exercise classes can be a super way to surround yourself with like minded and supportive people to help keep you going. Gym buddies are a huge reason why I have gone back to classes. If you can’t make it to a physical gym, there are plenty of online “gyms” filled with people ready to cheer you on.

Step #4: Rest

I know this is the opposite of moving, but taking time off it important too. Rest is about learning to trust ourselves and listen to our bodies. Pushing through that workout when you are sick or run down isn’t always worth it. When I was struggling with disordered eating and exercise, rest meant I was lazy. It meant I didn’t care about myself and one day off would undo all my hard work and I would be fat and out of shape immediately.

As I have been experimenting with my own exercise journey old thoughts started to creep back in, like the thought that unless I wanted to die or puke it wasn’t a real workout or taking a day off would mean I wasn’t dedicated enough. It got to be too much, so I took a step back from my traditional workouts and allowed myself to rest and gave myself permission to enjoy the rest. I am still developing a sense of what my fitness goals are, but I do know what I enjoy.  I do find joy in moving a barbell and it makes me feel good. I love the meditative state I find while on my rower, the stretch my muscles feel during yoga, the mental breather I get from doing absolutely nothing. These all make me a better person to be around.😉

Creating a workout habit can feel overwhelming and intimidating and defeating, but it doesn’t have to. I have spots available now for 1 on 1 coaching. Message me to set up a time to talk and let’s see if we can’t get you moving towards your best you!