I never took rest days.
I would force myself to exercise when I was sick, hadn’t slept, and even when I was in physical pain.
I felt so guilty, and I didn’t feel like I deserved to eat or do anything else until I had exercised.
These were some of my darkest days. I had insomnia, my hunger was out of control and my moods were all over the place.
If this is something you struggle with, I know how you feel. I hear you and I see you, but I want you to know it is possible to have a positive relationship with exercise, instead of a punishing one. Here are 3 tips to help you get started.
1. Exercise for wellbeing instead of weight loss
When we focus on the aesthetics of exercise such as weight loss, or calorie burning, it takes us away from how exercise makes us feel. It also gives us a negative relationship with it from the get-go, which makes it harder for us to engage in it.
Exercising for wellbeing means we are more likely to enjoy it and stick with it. We can do this by focusing on all the incredible wellbeing benefits of exercise such as decreasing stress, increasing relaxation, boosting our energy levels, helping us sleep, and making us feel good.
2. Exercise for fun
There is a misconception that exercise must be intense and hard work, but this is simply not true. Exercise can be anything you want it to be! And any type of regular movement has health benefits, even more so if it is something you enjoy doing.
What are your favourite ways to move your body? Write a list!
2. Exercise for self-care
Moving your body for self-care will help you reconnect to your body’s wisdom rather than relying on external rules and cues. It will also help you cultivate a joyful and peaceful relationship with movement.
So how do you approach exercise as self-care?
- Know it is ok to take a rest day or to not exercise at all if you don't feel like it.
- Not exercising to “burn calories” or “earn food”.
- Not exercising through guilt, shame, exhaustion, or pain.
- Asking yourself before you exercise, what feels good for me today?.
Diet culture has ravaged our relationship with exercise for long enough and it’s time for us to take it back again.
P.S Be You, Be Free is out now! This book will not only help you find food freedom, body peace, and joyful exercise, but it will also assist you in creating your own version of wellbeing so that you can take care of yourself in the best way that works for you. It will help you feel alive, it will help you feel connected, but mostly, it will help you uncover the person that you were meant to be before the world and diet culture told you who you had to be.