How much do you really need to exercise?
Do you currently have a workout routine in place that works for you, or is exercising something you know you should do but DREAD?
Personally, I can say that I have been in both places and probably everywhere in between, but feel that I have a great workout routine in place now that I love. I started working out as a teenager because I thought it would make me “skinny”. I used to do my mom’s Buns of Steel and Abs of Steel workouts. If you’ve ever seen or tried them, they are long and boring, but effective. My 16 year old arms were super buff. 💪
When my parents got a treadmill and exercise bike, I tried using those too, but that was sooo BORING to me and not something I could stick with. I tried watching movies and listening to music, but there was nothing that would keep me on that treadmill for longer than 5 minutes. I finally settled on step aerobics. I would “tape” it from this PBS show, and it was short and gave me a good workout. I loved it! Over the years, I changed up what I was doing, but was always pretty consistent. There were times that I didn’t exercise though, and I noticed that I felt different, and not in a good way. I was tired, sluggish, and my body felt stiff. When I started working full time, it took some time to find a time that worked for me. I wasn’t motivated after work, although I could do other forms of exercise, like walking. So, I settled on getting up early to workout then. I noticed when I did this, it increased my energy and started my day off right. I’ve made exercise a non-negotiable in my life. It has so many benefits. Besides the physical health benefits and aesthetic reasons, it provides energy, makes me feel good, and significantly improves mental health. When I broke my foot and wasn’t able to walk for 2 months, I could definitely tell the difference in my mental health. So, there are so many benefits, so why don’t more women do it consistently?
Time - many women think that in order to get a good workout in, they have to commit to at least an hour and sweat profusely. This is absolutely not true. In fact, doing this can actually end up messing up your hormones if it’s too much for your body. A good goal to aim for is 20-30 minutes, but if that’s too much for you, do what you can. Something is better than nothing.
Motivation - many women give up after a short time because they don’t have a big enough drive to keep going. It can be helpful to find another reason, other than weight loss (or punishment for eating something you feel guilty about) to keep you motivated. If I ever don’t feel like working out, I think of how I’m going to feel mentally and physically if I skip it.
No change - It takes time to see the changes, but not doing anything isn’t going to give you results either. You likely won’t see a difference after a week or even a month, but if you keep going, you WILL see a change. I believe the saying goes like this “In two weeks you'll feel it. In four weeks you'll see it. In eight weeks, you'll hear it”
Boredom - just like when I first started out and was too bored to stay on a treadmill for 5 minutes, other women give up for the same reason. That’s why it’s important to find something that you enjoy enough for it to be sustainable.
If you’re not working out currently, which one(s) is holding you back? Or is it something different?
Exercise is an important part of overall wellness, which is why I include it as a component of my Discover Your Dream Body in 90 days program. If you know this is something that needs to change, but aren’t really quite sure where to begin, this is something I will teach you in my program so you can experience the amazing benefits of a regular exercise routine. You can read more about my program by clicking on the button below. I am looking for 6 women to get started this month!
