Do you find yourself dragging yourself to the gym? Do you dread every second of your fitness routine? Or maybe you just hate working out. You feel guilty for feeling this way, but you can’t seem to find the motivation you need to exercise. If you answered yes to any of these questions, here are 10 things you can do to fall in love with working out when you hate it.
When it comes to the disdain you feel towards working out, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 23 percent of American adults are getting enough exercise. I have to be honest, I wasn’t too shocked when I saw how low this number was. A lot of people hate working out, and I get it because I was one of them.
My Fitness Journey
Once upon a time, I was a skinny girl who couldn’t gain a pound, no matter how hard I tried. I can remember vividly, coming home from school with my friends and stuffing our faces with whatever food we could find in hopes of gaining weight! My, how times have changed.
As I have gotten nice and cozy in my thirties, I’ve noticed that my body has changed exponentially. My metabolism has slowed, my energy decreased, and I had to all but starve myself to lose five pounds.
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve struggled with my weight for the last few years. Not a major struggle, but I’ve had moments when I looked in the mirror and wasn’t too thrilled with what I saw. I began feeling self-conscious and aware of my size for the first time in my life. I’ve had people comment and ask me if I was pregnant, or point out how “thick” I’ve gotten.
I resigned myself to going to the gym to work out, not because I wanted to, or enjoyed it, in fact, I felt that I had to because it was a chore. There were days when I would allow my emotions and feelings about working out dictate how I would exercise. I’d roll my eyes, pull up to my gym and would be eager to get through those thirty torturous minutes as soon as I could.
Truth be told, I’ve hated working out for as long as I can remember. Yes, I understand that to live a healthier life, regular exercise and a well-balanced diet are huge parts of that. Yet still knowing that, I couldn’t shake the dread that would come over me whenever I realized that a visit to the gym was coming up. It wasn’t until recently, when I adjusted my attitude about my health, and what fitness meant to me, that I was able to fall in love with working out.
The Benefits of Working Out
What exactly can constitute as exercise or working out? Well, working out can be any type of movement that gets your muscles working and your body burning calories. So, it’s not just the idea of sweating on a treadmill or getting screamed at by your trainer. Exercise can be swimming, dancing, or even just walking.
Exercising regularly comes with tons of health benefits, both physically and mentally. Including, improved mood and happiness, decreased depression and anxiety, weight loss, increased energy, improved brain health, better sleep, and a better sex life (wink).
How to Fall in Love With Working Out
Falling in love with working out has everything to do with changing the way you view working out in the first place. It’s important to focus more on what you can do and less on what you can’t. It’s all about consistency. Here are 10 things you can do to fall in love with working out.
Do What Interests You
Find something that truly interests you, that won’t feel like working out while you’re doing it. Yoga, dancing, walking, cycling, rock climbing, pole dancing classes…etc.
Get Clear on Your WHY
Knowing your why is important for any goal that you’re trying to reach, and fitness goals are no different. Your why has to resonate with you and have substance. When it comes to working out, many people (I was one of them) solely want to workout for the sake of losing a certain amount of weight. You have to get clear on what exercise or fitness means to you. It has to become a priority in your life.
You can read about the importance of priorities and how to set them here.
Adjust Your Mindset About Working Out
Want to fall in love with working out? Change the source of your motivation. Seek positive motivators instead of viewing fitness as an aggravation. For example, instead of treating working out as a chore, (not fun) I view my time at the gym as ME time. It’s the time I get to pour back into myself and my health after spending all of my energy on other things outside of myself. Doing so has turned my dread into excitement and yearning. Yes, I actually look forward to my gym sessions now! (Like this morning, I crawled out of bed on a rainy Wednesday at 5 in the morning, because I was EAGER to do so… like who am I?) Aren’t y’all proud of me?!
Stop Looking for a Quick Fix
This is not an overnight thing, the quicker you realize that the better. The key here is CONSISTENCY. Nothing worth having is going to happen overnight. You have to be patient and put the work in.
Habits Are Key
Focus on building the habit, and not the end result. People don’t realize how important and how impactful their habits are. But they are truly the key to making changes in your life and situation. If you want to see change, get some good solid habits under your belt.
Read more about habits and how to create good ones here.
Hire a Professional
I know this may not work for some, but it’s worked wonders for me. I realize that I dreaded working out because I was bored and didn’t really know what I was doing. Since hiring a trainer, I’ve been challenged in fun and exciting ways and I’m learning so much about what works for me and what doesn’t.
Let the Music Play
Create an amazing playlist. Yes, music helps a lot to get you pumped. Give yourself something to look forward to.
Team Up With a Friend
Get a workout buddy or group! Make it fun by bringing your friends into the mix. You guys can motivate and hold each other accountable. I workout with a few of my friends a couple of times out of the month and it’s so fun.
Don’t Neglect Your Diet
Working out is only half the battle, you have to fuel your body with the right food. Diet is very important, and you’ll be able to see the fruits of your labor faster when your diet is right.
Get Some New Gym Gear
Hey…when you look good, you feel good! Surprisingly enough, I’ve tried this theory and it does work. I purchased some cute workout gear and was so eager to put them to use and show them off! Are you judging me? Lol, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. Check out these super cute gym fits if you’re looking for some new threads.
There you have it. What other tricks did you use to fall in love with working out? Let me know in the comments below!
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