Exercise hmmmm

Exercise

Exercise....love it or hate it lets face it.....it’s good for us.  The benefits of exercise are well documented, the list of improvements it provides is long......so why do some take to it like a duck to water and others dabble as if hoping it will have gotten easier, and then there are those who refuse point blank.  I have fallen into all of these categories at some point.  The simple fact is that I have a goal in mind, I want to go all out to achieve it, and without fail.....I fail.....having given up at the first sign of a sweat bead!!!

Change the method

However.....I have recently found another way.  Having happily beaten my head against the same brick wall....and not achieved any of my fitness goals.  I decided that the method I was using i.e. join gym / yoga studio / spin class was clearly not the answer.....the pebble dashed butt and thighs a testament....and so I finally got the picture.......IF YOU’RE NOT GETTING THE RESULT, YOU GOTTA CHANGE SOMETHING!!  And my lovelies....I think I have found the answers.

The answer

There’s not a lot to it really, it only involves the following......pick something you really enjoy doing and in the context you enjoy doing it.  I understand that gyms, personal trainers and yoga studios are useful.  They teach you what you need to know.  But they are also there as a business venture, and they aren’t the ONLY way to get fit.  We really can achieve quite a lot on our own fellow fitness bunnies (of the future), we just have to love what we do and do what we love. 

What worked for me

So, I decided that I love yoga, walking and did enjoy my body pump class at the gym.  The drawback with the yoga for me was that the travel to and from the gym and studio was a hassle, took up too much time and I often left the yoga studio with my tail between my legs having been surrounded by a group of human pretzels and finding that 2 years into my yoga ‘career’ I still need a bend in my knees in order to touch my toes!!!

The answer.....I would exercise every day, picking whichever type I feel like and in a rough order to rotate the chosen approach and do it myself...at home.  To make it enjoyable I have picked motivating music and the benefit of doing it by myself at home is: it’s relaxing; I get to pick the music (doof doof doof no more.....Shania Twain and Foo Fighters get in!!) and I can do it on my time.....and save on travel!!!

And it’s working.  Every day I have taken to either: yoga; a walk; a song full of squats, lunges, warm up stretches.  And, all of this because I enjoy each one and I have picked a way to love them as I’m doing it.  Just add good music, a good setting for the walk (beach, houses, lake), a friend to do it with, candles (for the yoga).....be creative.

As with anything you can experience a lull after the initial novelty has worn off.  The key is to push through this with activity i.e. just keep doing something and before you know it you’re hooked!!  Also remember, 10 minutes exercise is better than nothing......don’t set yourself a ‘I must do 60 minutes of push ups’ only to either not even start, or to give up in 5 measly minutes!!  Just start and I guarantee you’ll go for longer than expected.

I will keep you updated on the results.  So far so good.......bring on those toned thighs!! J

P.S.  Just try doing some exercise and notice the effects.  Ever felt irritated?  Does someone ever rub you up the wrong way?  WELL, on occasion when I get grumpy and want to shove a rocket up someone’s XYZ, I use going for a walk as therapy.  I have found if I walk for at least 20-30 minutes I start to feel better, more chilled, and less bothered.  After about 40 minutes I am totally blissed.  I don’t care anymore about the thing that was bothering me, or I can see the lighter side....bigger picture................ and am happy to put the knives back in the holder...........go on, give it a try!! 

Last note

Very important – pick what you like...or even better, love.  If doing some yoga makes you fall asleep on the spot with boredom......go for a run, cycle, swim....the possibilities are endless....and I am SURE there is something you quite like J even just a little. xx