How To Make Exercising Fun Again-Getting Past The Dirty E Word

By Adelaide Kwaning

A while back I decided to get in shape. I thought “You go girl, you’ll look great and feel it too!” but many of the exercises I tried were not doing it for me. I’d start it and then quit, and then force myself to start again, all the while hating every minuet of it. Then I thought how much easier it would be if I was actually enthused about working out. Then it hit me, find something that excites you. That’s it!

Our bodies like to move, that’s a fact. It will tell you in so many ways to get up and get moving--stiffness, back pain even pins and needles, these are all signs of our bodies saying (sometimes screaming) “I need to move.”

The E word (exercising) has become dirty. This is partly because of the media shoving routine workouts down our throats. The next best thing is always popping up. The latest equipments and gym memberships are everywhere.

But at the end of the day it’s still--working out. Take a look at that word again. Working, this word has become associated with all that is negative. So why would working out get you excited to go.

The only time we are enthused about exercising is when there is a reward at the end of the tunnel, a smaller pant size. But the reward should be a healthier life style not a number. In other words you shouldn’t be packing yourself to the gym so you can lose 10 ponds; instead the focus should be on creating a healthier life style.

Think of it this way, you can spend 4 hours on a dance floor, getting down and funky, and working up a sweat till late at night, but a jog around the block kills. Why is that?

Because if dancing is something you like to do, it does not feel like a workout. Sure you are tired, but you don’t even realize it.

Likewise, if jogging is something you like doing you do not feel aggravated when you are doing it. You aren’t thinking, “When is this going to be over?” You get up, get moving and listen to your body. If it says one more lap and then I need to rest you usually comply. But if you are doing it because you have to, you either push your body to far or not far enough.

Am I saying down with trainers? Of course not, it’s great to have someone guide you through the process, so you do not get hurt, but everyone has an activity they enjoy. You may not have found yours yet but everyone does.

Your body likes to be on the go, it likes to be stretched and shaken. Perhaps you like swimming but hate cycling. Don’t force yourself to cycle, you won’t give your body the work out it needs, you’ve already determined you do not like it so you won’t be ready to fully embrace it.

Some people like classes. They like the interaction and having someone they can follow, others prefer to go it alone. They want to run along the beach, take a hike or pedal through the woods without anyone to distract them. Either or is fine.

People create unnecessary routines for themselves. You don’t need 3 hours a day at the gym to have a healthy heart. You simply need to move and your body already has instincts that will tell you so.

Follow these instincts and you’ll find yourself being more active and enjoying it. A healthy, active body is the key to a longer happier life.

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