Finding the time to sneak in a workout can be challenging for most people. There are a million excuses to not work out but there are a million reasons why we should. I discussed some of the top reasons to exercise regularly in a previous post. If you missed it, you can check it out here. One of my biggest tips to becoming consistent in your workout routine is to find a workout you love!
I have always enjoyed being active. I grew up doing gymnastics, cheerleading, and dance so I never thought about “working out.” When I started college all of that basically stopped. It was hard adjusting to my more sedentary lifestyle and it kind of crept up on me. I started to gain weight and was feeling less confident about myself.
Towards the end of my freshman year in college, I decided I was going to start working out. I had absolutely no idea how to do this. In the past, I always had a coach to tell me what to do and now I was trying to do it myself. I searched for the “perfect” workout on YouTube, Pinterest, and google. I tried so many random workouts but never stuck to it. Partly because I had no idea what I was doing and partly because I thought I had to be perfect at it. #nodaysoff
I have now learned that it isn’t about perfection. Consistency is key.
A couple of months later I found Tone It Up. The workouts were free and I could do them at home. I started going for runs at the gym and around my campus. It was through Tone It Up that I started to see how fun working out and taking care of my body was! But again I fell into the trap of trying to be perfect and burnt myself out. After my wedding, I basically stopped working out completely.
We then moved to San Antonio when I started pharmacy school and I knew needed some form of stress relief. I asked my husband to teach me how to lift weights and he said yes! This is when I started doing more bodybuilder style workouts. I started lifting heavier and doing less cardio. The heavier I lifted, the stronger I felt which was super awesome. BUT, I didn’t enjoy the actual workout! I made myself do this for a few years and while I did gain muscle and strength, my workout became a chore instead of something I loved to do. You can probably guess where this led me… I got burnt out again.
Fast forward to about a year and a half ago. I got a peloton from my in-laws for graduation and I’m not kidding when I say it has changed my life. (Not to be dramatic. LOL) For the first time in a couple of years, I couldn’t wait to work out each day. I had always loved going to spin class but rarely went due to the price of classes. Now that I had a bike at home, I was able to do something that I absolutely loved, and that motivated me each day. It became my stress relief as I was finishing up school and studying for boards.
My mindset shifted into working out because I “had to” to working out because I wanted to. That is when I noticed the biggest changes in my mental health and my body. Taking the stress out of having to be perfect allowed me to perform better and stay consistent in my workouts.
You always hear people say “find a job you love to do and it won’t feel like a job.” Well, I can tell that once you find a workout you love, it won’t feel like a chore.
Now don’t think I am telling you that you need a peloton to enjoy working out. That is just what I found that I love the most. There are so many options for you to choose from. If you don’t want to leave your home check out YouTube. Try that workout class you’ve been debating on trying. Get outside and take your dogs for a walk or run. Invite a friend to go with you if you are nervous to go alone!
A common misconception is that you have to work out at a gym for it to be considered a workout but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Getting up and moving your body is what it is all about. The American Heart Association includes walking, running, dancing, gardening and tennis as some great options for aerobic activity to prevent chronic disease. You can check out their recommendations here.
Finding a workout you love might take some time. I encourage you to try out new types of workouts to find what you truly enjoy doing. It doesn’t mean you have to do that workout every single day but it is nice to have something you love to come back to when you are needing that push of motivation. Your favorite workout will probably be different than the person next to you and that is totally okay!
Find what works for you and what excites you to get your body moving each day!
It is easy for me to sit here and tell you to stop stressing about your workouts and putting pressure on yourself to be perfect. But I understand first hand how hard it is to actually do that. Finding something you love to do is a step in the right direction to overcoming that. So, I encourage each and every one of you to step out of your comfort zone, try something new, and find a workout you love.
Let me know in the comments below what workout you love and what workouts you want to try. I will be starting a series soon spotlighting different types of workouts so that we can all learn what options are available. If you have any classes you want me to try, let me know!
