Creating A Healthy Relationship With Exercise

When it comes to fitness and exercise there are quite a lot of varying beliefs. Overall, the general population of humanity understands just how important exercise is, and the consequences of not getting adequate amounts of exercise. The thing that most of us miss here, is that, there are consequences to having (or doing) too much of a good thing as well. 

Exercise is honestly no different than anything else in life, so finding a healthy balance is equally important with exercise. Unfortunately, exercise seems to be the one thing that most people have the hardest time finding a balance with. So, I’ve decided to give a few tips that I’ve used in order to find a healthy balance. 

Exercise Is Not Punishment

It doesn’t really matter where you sit on the scale of “Exercise Balance”, you could be addicted to exercise, or addicted to exercising your right to stay away from the gym. This point is equally as important for anyone. Do not view exercise as punishment, exercise should be a source of strength for you. Exercise should be something that leaves you feeling empowered and accomplished. 

For most of us that struggle to get started with exercise, it’s typically because we are viewing exercise as punishment. It’s true that exercise may be painful, it may not be the most glamorous thing in the world, and it will leave you with some discomfort. But it’s important to remember that all of those things you’re feeling are the building blocks of strength, growth and empowerment. Once you realize that how you feel is more important than how you look while exercising, that’s when the act of exercising becomes super rewarding.

Like I said earlier, there are also those of us out there who are the other extreme. Those of us who are addicted to the act of exercising, and yes, this is a real thing. It can actually become a harmful thing for both your mental and physical health. This is where exercise as a punishment becomes a truly bad thing. Those of us that enjoy exercise (Maybe a bit too much) have a tendency to use exercise as punishment for eating something that isn’t super clean, or maybe going a bit too overboard on a cheat day. Sometimes we need to just enjoy our day with our friends and we go a bit overboard, that’s ok. Times like these are important for our social health, but honestly, just as important for our overall mental and physical health. Of course, everything can be counter-productive, so don’t go crazy every single cheat day. 

Exercise and the movements involved need to make you feel empowered, if you don’t feel empowered with a certain exercise, maybe it’s a good idea to stop that exercise. The same goes for those of us who exercise too much, if you’re starting to feel worn down and you’re starting to view exercise in a negative light. Take a day off. It’s totally ok, and it isn’t a bad thing. 

Stay Committed, Yet Flexible

Our bodies were designed to move, they were designed to be active. When we are moving and active, we thrive mentally and physically. There's so many different studies that show the importance and correlation between exercise and mental health. So, I always try to get those around me exercising in some way. However, I understand that sometimes things get in the way. Sometimes life just doesn’t allow for exercise, or maybe we’re too exhausted to get up and head to the gym. That’s all part of real life, and it’s totally fine.

It’s important to keep in mind that when this happens, you need to stay committed to your mental and physical health, yet flexible with how you approach it. If you’re one of the few how start to feel a sense of anxiety because you didn’t get to exercise today, that may be a good sign to take a step back from exercise and to re-align yourself with why it’s important to you. Stay flexible with your approach, if you can’t make it to the gym, that’s ok. Try getting some stretches in during your lunch break, or maybe just go for a nice little walk. You’re still keeping your body moving and active, while giving it a rest and also promoting mental health. 

Listen Up

These things we call our bodies are insanely remarkable machines. They are so crazy smart, constantly sending us messages or signs that we need to stop and listen to. As modern humans, we have a tendency to ignore what our bodies are telling us. It’s important that we listen to the cues our bodies are giving us and follow the natural “guidance” we receive. 

Our bodies are so complex that they can actually guide the way we exercise. This is known as “intuitive fitness”. Basically, its staying in touch with how you feel before during and after an exercise, and being able to adjust the exercise based on how you feel. However, this doesn’t mean you can stop doing an exercise just because you feel sore or a little tightness. Intuitive fitness is understanding if you feel energized, weak, strong, run-down, or if you feel pain. It’s about being able to understand the patterns that arise when you’re exercising, as these are signs of guidance from your body. 

I hope these tips have helped you, it’s important to keep these things in mind as you’re starting to exercise, or as you’re continuing on in your exercise journey. Keep a balance within your exercise, focus on ensuring positive outcomes, and never use exercise as punishment.