Hate Exercise? Here are 10 Simple Tips to Change Your Mind

After hearing how many of you ‘hate’ exercise, I thought I’d share some things that you can do to make you start enjoying it more.

To be 100% honest, I don’t love to exercise. I don’t love sacrificing the time that it takes and I don’t love the sore muscles or little injuries that I experience every once in a while. BUT, the benefits make it all worth it.

• I enjoy being able to eat a bit more (I’ve gotta be honest).
• I enjoy the feeling of strong muscles.
• I enjoy feeling God’s presence as it’s often a spiritual experience for me—especially when walking in nature.
• I enjoy the mental clarity that I have during and after my workouts.
• I enjoy the adrenaline rush and the endorphins release that lingers for hours after.
• I enjoy the principles that carry over into other areas of my life such as patience, discipline, the process of growth, and the importance of incorporating mental, physical, and spiritual just to name a few.

Do you wish that exercise could become as natural to you as brushing your teeth or taking a shower every day? You can by learning some secrets that I use. Read on and find out how.

Choose an activity you will enjoy

You’re much more likely to stick to an activity that you enjoy and is appropriate for your lifestyle. Think of some non-conventional activities like dancing.

Keep it simple

When people make up their minds to start exercising, they choose a goal like, ‘I’m going to start exercising for 30 minutes every day’. The problem is, the goal is too difficult and people get frustrated and quit after a short period of time. Start walking and gradually build up to a jog when your body gets stronger.

It’s not ‘all or nothing’

Many people think that they have to work out every day for 1 hour to get results. Instead of thinking this way, think about small little things you can do each day to move more. Where can you walk to? What can you do standing instead of sitting down?

Make exercise fun

Read, listen to music or watch TV, make it a family affair or try a new activity such as dancing, hiking, or simply walking through the mall. Make a list of all the fun things you like to do and see how you can incorporate exercise into them.

Make an appointment with yourself

Put it right in your Day-timer and treat it just as important as your other appointments. When life gets busy, exercise is the first thing that people will blow off their schedules. As I plan my day, I look for where in my schedule I can block off time to exercise. It’s as important as any other meeting I may have in the day.

Hire a trainer

This will get you the results you want. On their own, many people get frustrated and quit. A trainer will give you the additional motivation and push needed to get the job done. Even though I’m a trainer, I still use a personal trainer every once in a while to help keep me current, motivated and refocused.

Consider online training to track your progress

It will help you establish accountability and keep you motivated. There are great tools now like the Fitbit which will help track your daily steps and activity. My goal each day is to complete 10,000 steps.

Get connected

What are the rest of your friends like? Chances are, if they’re active, you will also be active and if they don’t exercise then you will also be a couch potato like them. If this is the case, think of some ways to connect yourself with the fitness community. Join a gym, take a fitness class at a local community center; join an online Facebook group. In our Weight Loss, God’s Way program we’re currently wrapping up our ‘Get-Active challenge. It’s been so much fun to be supported and encouraged by like-minded healthy Christian women like me. It has made all the difference for some of the sisters in the group.

Make it routine

If you can exercise at the same time every day, then it will be easier to stick to. Try exercising the first thing every day before you start your day and it will increase the likelihood of it getting done.

Get a workout buddy

Exercising with someone else can make exercise more fun and help you stick to your goals. Is there anyone in your life who would make a good accountability partner? Give them a call today! I have a couple of workout buddies (including my hubby) who I sometimes exercise with; we are able to motivate each other, especially when one of us does not feel like exercising.

Remember there is no one way to get in shape and it might take you a while to get consistent, but if you make a commitment to yourself to keep at it, then you will eventually get there. The important thing is to never give up and keep at it.

Make it a fun and fit day!

P.S. if you are tired of circling the same mountain over and over and want a Christ-centered approach to lasting weight loss without feeling guilty, deprived, or overwhelmed, be sure to sign up for our video course program right away at cathymorenzie.com