How to Rebuild Your Relationship with Exercise

Tips and tricks to rebuild a relationship with exercise

We are so envious of people who make regular exercise look like a breeze.

Many of us start going to a gym with a lot of motivation, only to call it quits in a short time.

It makes us feel guilty, but we always come up with an excuse. Ghosting the gym is a ubiquitous phenomenon!

This article will help you stick with exercise and achieve the goals you want in a quick and easy guide.

1. Punitive Perception

Many people view exercise as a punishment, especially those who are fat-shamed or have body image issues.

They see it as "time" for their "crime". Fitting a healthy habit in your schedule with negative cues will make you feel worn out and want to quit.

The solution is to clear your mind before starting a fitness regime and focus on the positive outcomes. See it as a fun activity rather than “hard labour".

Feel the energy you once used to when paying hide and seek or making sandcastles. Kids never seem to run out of energy. The secret? They see their silly activities as fun and pleasurable.

When you hit the dreaded elliptical machine with this positive approach, you will instantly notice the euphoria.

Remember, you are changing your lifestyle to improve your health. Tell yourself that the change is by you and for you only, not an inflicted punishment. You are answerable to yourself only.

Drop the pressure and guilt. You could also take a walk down memory lane, thinking about what used to give you joy.

Maybe it was the playful arm wrestling in high school. You can start it again; the sense of competition is more than enough and it will add much more meaning to your exercise.

2. Weigh Your Wife

Your partner is your best gym partner. They live with you and you both know each other's schedules.

Pairing your workouts with your better half means motivation is present inside and outside of the gym, and you two are constantly there to remind and push each other in a positive way.

It is an excellent bonding ritual and it will make you comfortable with each other’s bodies. Give each other challenges in the gym.

Try bicep curls while holding your partner, it will test your back, biceps and shoulders while she will be strengthening her core by holding a plank position.

3. Jog with a Journal 

When it comes to fitness, many of us do not have a clear goal.

Many of us might aim to lose inches or pounds in a short period of time, but losing twenty kilograms in two weeks, for example, is nearly impossible.

This non-practical approach hinders the positive reinforcement we need to push through the initial inertia.

The key is to set clear, crisp and achievable goals. Also, keep a chart of your progression; it can be in terms of pounds lost or the pounds added to the bar.

Writing them along your journey and reflecting on them will make you see clearly and keep you perked up.

Losing twenty kilograms in a month looks easier if you set a goal of losing five kilograms a week.

This way you will also notice your strengths and weaknesses and most importantly what works best for you.

4. You are Unique

Many of us go to the biggest guy in the gym to be like him or follow the regime of an IFBB Pro champion, but it rarely works. The reason? It is simply not for you.

Find how your body evolves with fitness and you will soon realise how it is meant to be.

Your genetic code will reveal itself, whether it be a lean ripped look, a bulky strong man look or a trunk-like power-lifter look.

This further emphasises the need for a fitness journal to cross out what does not work for you and accept what does.

Weight training, aerobics and HIIT all give stellar results but accept the fact that what works for your gym bro may not work for you or is not good enough for you.

Give your body time and love. You can recite powerful reaffirmations like "I am a warrior” or “I am capable” while doing yoga or meditation.

This works two ways; you will be aiming for fitness from a place of love not a place of hate.

Many people start from a place of hate towards their bodies and they do not find their "uniqueness".

Secondly, the daily reminders will make you happy to get up at five am, rather than groggy and upset.

5. Focus on Feel Good, Not Look Good

The path to fitness is slow but rewarding. It requires patience and motivation. Your goal should not be looking ripped in the mirror, it should be feeling healthier and more energetic.

Appreciate the seemingly small yet huge changes to your life, such as sleeping better, more energy in the mornings, powering through work and better sex drive.

These are the real gifts of a healthier lifestyle!

Moreover, keep in mind that our bodies are constantly changing. It’s natural to expand, shrink and age. 

Our fitness regime should be resilient enough to account for such changes, it should not punish us. Feeling more confident in your body is the key!

Final Word

Fitness is a journey of patience, learning to love the wins and the losses.

It is a constant struggle. It is okay to be on and off your routine. What matters is that you keep doing it and finding ways to make it better and then sticking to them.

It can be any activity: soccer, swimming, tennis or the good old weights.

Find what keeps you motivated and what you can enjoy. Pair it with a partner and you will see an exponential change.

Whenever in doubt, seek professional help such as a nutritionist to help you understand how your body works with certain diets, or a trainer to help you find what works best for you.

The mantra is to happily be in motion and from a place of love!