Why I Stopped Forcing Myself to Exercise (And What I Do Instead)
Look, I used to be that person who'd drag myself to the gym because I had to, not because I wanted to. Spoiler alert: it totally didn't work. 🙄
You know what I'm talking about - setting that 5am alarm with the best intentions, only to hit snooze 17 times while feeling guilty AF. Been there, done that, got the unused gym membership card to prove it.
But here's the thing: somewhere along the way, we got it all wrong. Like, completely wrong. We bought into this weird idea that exercise needs to be this horrible, painful thing we force ourselves to do. (Thanks, certain TV shows about weight loss that shall remain unnamed 👀)
The Big Problem With How We Think About Movement
Here's what took me WAY too long to figure out: Exercise isn't supposed to feel like punishment. mind blown
I know, right? After years of believing that "no pain, no gain" was the only way, this felt like discovering that chocolate is actually good for you. (Which, btw, it kind of is - but that's another story!)
The Game-Changing Mindset Shift
Instead of forcing yourself to exercise, what if - and hear me out here - you just focused on finding ways to move that don't make you want to fake your own death to avoid them?
Here's what changed everything for me, and what I now share with my clients:
1. Start With What Doesn't Suck
Remember when you were a kid and moving was just... fun? You didn't call it exercise - you called it playing. Maybe you loved dancing in your room, or swimming, or climbing trees. Start there. For me, it was dancing like a complete dork in my living room. Zero coordination, maximum fun.
2. Make It Social (Because Everything's Better With Friends)
Real talk: I'm about 80% more likely to show up for a workout if I know someone's waiting for me. It's like how you'll bail on plans unless you've already told your friend you're coming. Find your accountability buddy or join a group that doesn't take themselves too seriously.
3. Take It Outside (Nature Is Free Therapy)
Fun fact: Research shows that outdoor exercise makes people feel more energized and less depressed. Plus, you get to see dogs. Win-win. 🐕
4. Embrace the Power of Play
Remember how I mentioned dancing like a dork? Yeah, that. Try things that make you laugh:
- Hula hooping (harder than you remember!)
- Jump rope (also harder than you remember!)
- Frisbee
- Literally anything that makes you forget you're exercising
Real Talk: What This Looks Like IRL
Last week, I had a client who HATED exercise. Like, would rather do their taxes kind of hate. We started with just 10 minutes of dancing to their favorite guilty pleasure songs. No rules, no proper form, just movement.
Two months later? They're doing dance cardio classes 3x a week and actually looking forward to it. Not because they forced themselves, but because they found their thing.
Your Turn: The Un-Exercise Challenge
Here's what I want you to try this week:
- Make a list of 3 ways you enjoyed moving as a kid
- Pick ONE and do it for 10 minutes
- Pay attention to how you feel (not how many calories you burned)
- Come back and tell me about it!
The Bottom Line
Movement shouldn't feel like punishment. It shouldn't be something you have to trick yourself into doing. And it definitely shouldn't make you feel worse about yourself.
Start small. Start with what feels good. Start with what makes you smile.
And hey, if you see me dancing like a maniac at the park or having an intense hula hoop session in my backyard, feel free to join in. I promise not to judge your moves if you don't judge mine! 💃
What's one way you actually ENJOY moving? Drop it in the comments below - I'm always looking for new ideas to add to my "movement that doesn't suck" list!
P.S. Still not convinced? Start with a 5-minute dance party in your kitchen. No one's watching, and I promise it counts as movement. Plus, it's basically impossible to feel bad while dancing to your favorite song. Science.*
(*Okay, not actual science, but you know what I mean!)
