Last week I fell into the same trap everyone seems to fall into when returning to exercise after a long break. How easy it is to re-develop a bad relationship with exercise. The good news is that I can use my epic fail to illustrate the pitfalls of starting to exercise again and why we give up in the end.

 

I started exercising last week. I picked a workout that I used to find really easy and began…. Well the warm up nearly killed me.

 

Within minutes I was huffing and puffing, bright red and feeling really annoyed with myself for getting into such bad shape.

 

 I was frustrated I couldn’t do all the exercises that I used to find easy and dare I say it…enjoy! I was back to square one. As if I had never done any exercise in my entire life.

 

I was starting from the weakest point I have ever started from in my life.

 

I was struck by all the reasons to hate exercise and why so many people never find a good relationship with it.

 

When you don’t approach exercise from the right place both emotionally and physically, you are entering into a bad relationship.

 

One that will make you question why you committed to it in the first place! After all who wants to commit to a relationship that hurts you, makes you feel uncomfortable, embarrasses you, you don’t want to be seen in public with it and worst of all it puts you down and makes you feel like you aren’t good enough?

 

I had failed to plan properly for success. I didn’t start from where I was…..which is right back at the beginning.

 

I started where I thought I was without really assessing the situation. Big mistake! Maybe we had spent too long apart, but I realized we aren’t a match anymore in the same way we used to be. It’s not you it’s me.

 

If you are struggling with exercise and wish you could get back into it then I suggest you take the time to really assess where you are in your relationship to it? Make a list of all the things you hate about it. Such as:

 

1. It hurts
2. It makes you red and sweaty
3. You don’t want to be seen doing it
4. You hate wearing workout gear
5. You don’t know where to start
6. You aren’t sure what to do
7. You never stick to it so why bother?
8. It’s uncomfortable

 

Once you have made your list then it is easy to see all the reasons you shouldn’t be in a relationship with it.

 

You need to find one that treats you right.

 

One you can get to know on your own terms. One that you are in control of and that makes you feel good about yourself. In other words, try to pick something appropriate for your level mentally and physically. Simplify, simplify, simplify.

 

Try not to let the push and pull of what you feel you “should” be doing, outweigh what you actually feel you would rather do.

 

Once you start looking for the right qualities in this new relationship, you will find it much easier to stick to. Suddenly you are embarking on a relationship that you want to spend time in. You look forward to it!

 

There are so many ways to plan for and structure your exercise so that it fits your lifestyle once you take the time to assess your situation.

 

Unfortunately far too often we are sold expensive and extreme fitness plans. The truth is, they only work if you stay in a relationship with them. And lets face it…who wants to be married to Satan?

 

What would you add to the above list of things to hate about exercise?

 

Comment below or get in touch.

 

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