Forget the fads and find your own reasons to move your body

Exercise is life and longevity, but it can be hard to get started

Jun 07, 2024

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I could eat a whole cake in just a few days up until age 23. Other than taking care of kiddos and doing sit-ups here and there, I didn’t workout.

Then the inevitable… I started gaining weight. Today, I find much gratitude in that. It made me move! I was young, and with a small 5’ 2” petite frame I noticed the weight on my body. It motivated me to start exercising and cut wayyyyyyy back on the cake.

The start of my healthy living journey may have been motivated by weight gain, but let me tell you —— over the years (26 to be exact, gulp) I have experienced so much. I used to do the fad diets. I can’t even believe I did the Special K diet. It worked, but now that I think of all the nutrients I missed by eating cereal as a meal, I cringe! I have learned so much over the years, and evolved into not caring as much about being healthy for aesthetic reasons, but rather for optimal energy and longevity.

Yes, I want to fit into my jeans - that is always a thing, but living life with vibrant energy is wayyyy more important to me.

If you go onto Instagram or Tiktok, you’ll see that social media is full of people trying to sell you their workout secrets, but what you really need is a reason to exercise that works for YOU.

Today I will share 3 ways to find the motivation you need to start and stick with a workout routine.

3 ways to find the motivation to start a workout journey

woman stretching for her workout - finding exercise you love — Created in Pinterest Collage by author

First, figure out WHY you want to start exercising 🏋️

Think about what your life will look like in 10, 20, or 30 years.

Like, seriously think about this.

Do you see yourself traveling the world, playing with your grandkids, or finally working on the hobbies that you always put off until the time was right?

Are you able to do these things or have you fallen ill? Do you have the energy to take on these things? Are your bones strong enough to walk all day on your European vacation?

This is where exercise now can benefit you in the future. It can help keep your bones strong, build muscle, stamina, keep your heart healthier and your brain sharper.

If that isn’t reason enough right there…

Also, think about your life today. Would you like more energy? Do you want to fit into your jeans better? Do you want to keep your immune system strong?

Think about your true why for starting a workout routine.

Ask yourself “why do I want to start working out?”

Then ask yourself “How will this improve my wellbeing (physically, mentally, or otherwise)?”

It’s a powerful exercise.

Second, think about your process goals

health coaching in action 🧠

Many of us set big end-state goals, like "I want to lose 15 pounds." But here's the thing… real, lasting change comes from setting process goals.

So let’s say you want to lose 15 pounds. The problem here is that this goal is a momentary change. The real goal is to maintain that weight loss long-term.

Instead of focusing on just losing 15 pounds, it’s more effective to set a process goal like, "I want to maintain a healthy body weight."

This shift in focus changes everything.

Now, the emphasis is on the "maintain" part of the goal. So, ask yourself “what daily actions will keep me at a healthy weight?”

Instead of just thinking about the weight loss number, think about setting a goal to exercise for 10 minutes every morning. This ongoing process is wayyyyy more likely to become a habit that ends up helping you not only lose the weight but also keep it off for good.

So, next time you’re setting a goal, think about the process that will get you there and keep you there. I want you to enjoy the journey and make it sustainable.

Third, find movement that you actually enjoy doing

So, I don’t generally do exercise that I hate. I have zero motivation if it’s not something I like to do. I love to walk, jog, lift weights, HIIT, and pilates. I really do not like using machines at the gym. I never go to the gym. I’ve always been a home-workout girl. There is plenty I can do outside of the gym. Barrier removed!

If you're forcing yourself to do something you hate, you'll eventually quit (most likely). Explore to find movement that aligns with you! Try out different exercise classes, YouTube workouts, or different sports until you find something that you look forward to doing. The most important thing is to find movement that feels good!

I remember my daughter started getting into pilates. I recall her texting me one day and saying “I can’t wait to go home after work and workout”. I want you to feel that way!

Once you find movement you enjoy, you can start to add in other exercises to make sure you're working on all the different aspects of fitness, like strength, flexibility, and cardio. But remember, focus on finding movement you enjoy. That will equal lifelong sustainability and overall well-being.

At-home fitness programs that I have tried and love

I have tried many online fitness programs over the years as I am not a gym person. Currently, I am a member of Centr, which is Chris Hemsworth’s fitness app. It is so much more than fitness. You’ll get recipes and meditations too. I truly love this one. I log on daily! You can start fitness programs and track your progress along the way. They also have a great Facebook group. You enter your goals and the planner will suggest a workout, meals, and meditation every single day. Check it out here.
I have been a member of Beach Body on Demand forever! It is now called BODi by Beachbody. They have SO many workouts! You’ll also find nutrition and recipes with BODi. I may or may not renew this one. The planner part of Centr is so appealing to me. I haven’t used BODi since I signed up for Chris’ program. But - it is amazing and I highly suggest BODi as well. Here’s a link to their site.
Daily Burn is another fabulous choice. They’ve been around forever and have tons of workouts as well. I had it for years alongside BODi. I couldn’t justify having both, so I chose to keep BODi and let Daily Burn go (it was hard). When BODi is set to renew in September, I might make the same choice and keep Centr. In a world of soooo many memberships/subscriptions, we would be spending our entire paychecks on them if we’re not careful.

These are all tried and loved programs I have done. Check them out and see what feels right for you.

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