Shift Your Exercise Mindset

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It’s no secret that exercise is an integral part of my life. And while I know that not everyone lives and breathes fitness like I do, I believe that it does have a place in everyone’s life – and not for the reasons you may think (like weight loss). If you have been struggling to be consistent with exercise, or even *gasp* hate it, I want to help shift your exercise mindset to something more positive. 

Why Do People Exercise? 

I took a survey a while ago, asking runners why they run. I was surprised that most people’s reasons centered around feeling good. They said they run to clear their minds, sort their thoughts, or feel more creative. Or that being outdoors, breathing deeply, and feeling the air or rain helps them feel refreshed. These are the reasons we should be exercising and moving our bodies. It feels good to be outside, our mental health is better, and feeling strong and achieving goals is empowering. 

Of course, there were a few people that said they run to lose weight or look a certain way. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but running (or any exercise for that matter) is no guarantee to help you lose weight or alter your appearance. There are a lot of factors involved in weight loss, such as diet, exercise, stress, sleep, hydration, and hormones. Further, I believe that if the only reason you are exercising is to lose weight, then it is time to shift your exercise mindset. 

When you have a positive mindset about exercise, it becomes easier for movement to become an integral part of your life. 

Ditch These Thoughts About Exercise

I don’t know how you grew up, but I remember teachers making kids run laps for misbehaving in class. Then our culture (subconsciously or not) would show us images of “forbidden foods” and having to work hard to pay the price for eating them. It’s understandable why many of us look at exercise as punishment. 

How many of these unhealthy ideas about exercise have you told yourself? 

• I ate too much last night, so I have to exercise extra today to burn off those calories. 
• If I’m not in pain or puking, I didn’t work hard enough. (If this speaks to you, read this next: Do You Push Through the Pain When You Run?)
• If I want to get stronger, I need to push myself so I can barely walk the next day. 
• I feel guilty if I miss a day of exercise.
• Even though I’m sick, I need to work out so I don’t lose my progress.
• This injury won’t stop me. No pain, no gain! 
• I’m giving up on exercise, because I took a month off. What’s the point?
• I have to do exercise XYZ because so-and-so says I should – even though I hate it.
• I can’t do exercise XYZ because of my weight, age, fitness level, or gender.
• I need to work out so I can have flat abs, a bigger butt, etc. 

I could go on with all of the misinformed things we tell ourselves about exercise. They may sound silly to read them out loud, but we all have stories we tell ourselves about fitness. They could be things we picked up as kids (I’m too lazy), that we read about a celebrity (drinking celery juice helped me drop weight), or about an athlete (he works out six hours a day to look that good). 

Despite all of this “programming” and false beliefs that we may have about exercise, you always have the power to make a change. 

How to Shift Your Exercise Mindset

Changing how you think about exercise won’t happen overnight. But, just as we picked up negative ideas about fitness, we can learn new, positive ones. Here are some positive ideas to start telling yourself about exercise: 

• I exercise to feel good mentally, physically, and emotionally.
• I exercise to get stronger. 
• I am made to do hard things, and I can do this challenging workout. 
• I am taking a rest day(s), so my body can recover from a workout, illness, or injury. 
• I’ll have a better workout next time because I’m allowing my body to recover and heal.
• I do exercise XYZ because I like it!
• I am going to try a new form of exercise, and it is okay to be a beginner. Everyone was a beginner at some point. 
• I know my limits, and pushing past them could hurt me. 
• With practice, I’ll get to my goals. 

We may have learned that exercise can be a punishment, but do you also remember having fun “exercising” as a kid? The next time you pass a group of kids at a school or park, have a look. They run everywhere they go! Their games are all active – frisbee, soccer, tag, climbing the playground. It was FUN to move and be free, and it was just part of life. 

Surprise! Exercise still can be a part of your life. Have fun with it. Do it because it helps you feel good, and be kind to yourself along the way. 

And remember – b.Pilates & Fitness is here to help if you need a gentle push in the right direction.