Finding a Healthy Relationship with Fitness

It’s Time to Say Goodbye to Toxic Exercise Relationships

Whether you have a vacation coming up in a few months or you’re sick of the on-again, off-again routine you have with exercise, it’s easy to find yourself in a poor mindset towards being active. And it’s understandable that it might not be as simple to find and stick with a positive change for the good. But that’s why we’ve compiled 3 of our favorite pieces of advice that can help you adjust your approach.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that most adults can optimize their health by including:

• Cardio: 150 minutes per week
• Resistance training: two to three days per week
• Flexibility training: two to three days per week
• Balance and coordination training: two to three days per week

But these recommendations are only a part of the equation because it’s not just about how much you get moving. Your relationship with your fitness routine is just as important (if not more so!). let’s look at how to find a healthy relationship with exercise.

Don’t Fall into a Shame Spiral

A common thought pattern that occurs is thinking you need to reprimand yourself for eating something extra or enjoying dessert. Sometimes it occurs in the form of the feeling that if you eat ‘x’ number of calories for a snack, you must burn at least that many calories right away to make up for it. This type of behavior can shift your mindset from self-control into one that makes you feel shame when it comes to how you get active (or don’t get active).

Rather than taking a negative approach, remember that you don’t have to exercise All. The. Time. Or make up for missing a day at the gym. Finding a great workout routine and moving your body consistently is only one piece of your fitness relationship.

Listen to Your Body

You’ve probably heard this one before. But what does it really mean to listen to your body? For starters, it means that even if you have a schedule you typically follow, you don’t need to make it a strict regimen. Your body will give you cues that mean you should temporarily pause your exercise routine and get active once you’re able to, like:

• You feel extremely sore
• You’re sick or beginning to feel ill
• You’re fatigued
• An injury is flaring up

Sometimes your emotional state is what’s going to impact your consistency, whether it’s:

• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Boredom
• Laziness

Depending on the cue your body is giving you, a personal trainer can be a strong resource for finding consistent motivation and understanding when to take a break.

Have the Right Motivation

A healthy relationship with your workouts means you’re not stressing out over why you’re exercising.

If you find that your anxiety creeps in before heading to the gym because you need to burn off those extra calories or you’re worried about not making enough physical improvements, your emotional health is struggling.

The same goes for forcing yourself to work out for a specific amount of time instead of listening to your body’s needs. If your emotional/mental health is in a bad state, it’s going to be harder to make your good habits stick.

Your mind and body should be in sync, not at odds. This includes the activities you include in your workouts.

Having something to look forward to will boost your energy levels. When your routine encompasses movement you like rather than making yourself include something you don’t like just because it’s the ‘best’ way to achieve a goal, you’ll be more excited to get into it and release more endorphins while doing so. Those endorphins will make you feel even better!

Let yourself be empowered by your activities. We can help you get there.