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The secret to enjoying exercise

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Do you feel like the only way exercise is worth it is if you work out for an hour? Or if you are dripping sweat? Or if you burn “x” amount of calories?

Let me let you in on a secret.

Exercise is beneficial no matter how long you do it, how much you sweat or how many calories you burn. Exercise doesn’t have to be something you despise doing either!

exercise female fitness foot
Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom on Pexels.com

For many years I wanted to be a runner. In fact, I was a runner technically.

I ran in races and would get the runner’s high… but my body hurt and ached when I ran, and especially after.

About 4 years ago I trained for a 10k and my right IT band has never been the same. I ran that race and I haven’t ran since. On purpose.

I realized what I was putting my body through wasn’t worth it. My body deserves to exercise and feel good, but it doesn’t need to be abused and hurt after I get done.

I let go of all pre-conceived notions about exercise and asked myself what I loved to do and what made me feel good.

  • Walking
  • Bar Method

That’s it. Currently, that’s what I do. And I love it. I look forward to it. My body feels good doing it and it puts me in a great mood.

A woman with her arms outstretched doing a workout routine

What is the best exercise to do?

The one you will do!!!

There are so many articles, bloggers, fitness trainers, etc. that will tell you they have the secret for you to finally get the results you want. What no one is talking about is if you hate to exercise you will not stick with it… and what’s the point of that??

The best exercise to do is one that you

  • enjoy doing
  • feels good for your body
  • fits into your schedule, or you can make time for
  • one that you can be consistent at each week

Exercise should not be a punishment.

There are so many exercises to choose from and it doesn’t have to be what everyone else is doing! Think of something you enjoy doing and find a way to turn it into movement you enjoy!

Exercise ideas

Let’s think outside the box! You don’t have to get on a treadmill… you have options! Here are some things to try.

  • Barre Class- my favorite is Bar Method
  • Walking outside
  • Running
  • Yoga
  • Paddle Board Fitness (I’ve done yoga on a paddle board and it is amazing and peaceful)
  • HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)
  • Crossfit
  • Kickboxing
  • Hiking
  • Skiing (water or snow)
  • Join an adult sports team like volleyball or softball
  • Golf- skip the cart!
  • Dancing- turn on the music at home and dance away! Or join a dance class!
  • Biking
  • Stairs- use your stairs at home to get some quick movement in!

There are so many options! You don’t need a ton of time or equipment. Just try to move a bit more if this is an area you are wanting to focus on.

A woman with Bar Method props behind her as she is doing a curl workout

What are 5 benefits of exercising?

This list could go on and on, but here are 5 simple benefits for incorporating exercise into your life.

  1. It’s good for your heart
  2. It’s good for your emotional health
  3. It can boost your energy
  4. It can help you sleep better
  5. It’s fun! (When you are doing something you enjoy!)

Exercise is a form of self care for me.

Every week I schedule my Bar Method classes online and put them on my calendar. I have done this since I joined Bar Method in 2016.

These classes are a non-negotiable for me, unless I am short on sleep and then sleep trumps my 5am alarm.

I am a happier person when I have made time for my workout, even if I have to get up before the sun to get it in!

I challenge you to find an exercise you enjoy and put it on your calendar. Make yourself a priority this next week.

Remember you can’t pour from an empty cup and you need to take care of YOU to take care of others.

Do you incorporate exercise into your weekly routine? Tell me in the comments what your favorite form of exercise is!

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing your insight! I enjoy waking up early to exercise while my husband and kids are still sleeping. It can be difficult sometimes, but one thing that really helps me stay motivated is having a gym near me that plans my workouts for me. Having pre-planned exercises takes out work and time that I can later spend with my kids!

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