Day 10 of my ‘self-love’ journey and today’s challenge requires me to consider how I view exercise. (If I’m honest, the words: exercise, schmexercise pop into my head here!)
As part of the diet program I’m on I’m required to exercise six days a week. I’ve written about my approach to exercise (on this program) a number of times. Given my starting level of fitness I haven’t been too ambitious in planning my exercise. While others do two gym classes a day and coast through the 500 calories/day we are supposed to burn; I congratulate myself on 30 minute exercise bike rides and 45 minute pilates classes. It’s hard not to compare my paltry efforts with others, but I HAVE to remember I’m running my own race and need to focus my attention ahead of me, not on how my fellow runners are going. And frankly (as of today), I’ve lost exactly 12kg in 6.5 weeks – so I can’t really berate myself too much.
Today’s blogging challenge asks us to consider why we exercise and the benefits we expect.
We cannot deny that part of loving ourselves fully comes with loving our bodies. We have already discussed the importance of appreciating what our bodies can do for us as well as avoiding the trap of idolizing them. How do all these thoughts and ideals play out in practice though? Exercise, if approached considerately, plays a significant role in helping us achieve self-love.
In my mind, exercise simply means movement of the body with a health benefit. So walking to and from work, dancing around your living room, chasing around your kids, strolling through a new city while sightseeing, hiking with friends, and so many other activities count as exercise.
We must also keep a few other things in mind when discussing exercise. Exercising is about our fitness, our health and the benefits it provides our bodies. Forget the smaller pants size and nicer arms. Exercise helps give you a better life to enjoy your body and all of its gifts!
As you can see, exercise has a lot of power to either strengthen us physically and mentally or wear us down in those ways as well. Our perspective and focus on exercise determine which happens to us. Do we take notice of all the fabulous things we do for our health physically? Can we appreciate them even if not in the traditional workout setting? Do we enjoy our fitness activities and goals? Do we refrain from losing focus on life as a whole in pursuit of those goals? Let exercise fulfill you, not control you.
Has exercise ever controlled your life or defined you in a negative way? What ways can/do you pursue fitness for health and a stronger sense of self?
By the time I started seriously dieting I also started exercising in my bedroom. After each meal I would do a whole routine of exercises and then dance (to Madonna and Michael Jackson – it was the mid-late 1980s) every night. Although I gained weight from my low of just over 45kg, I was still doing hours and hours of exercise by the time I went to University over a year later.
And then I stopped. Everything. The idea of having to train properly was more than I could stand. My dread of the fitness side of training had overtaken any enjoyment I once found in the sport. I had a couple of false starts and played some basketball and netball for a while before quitting everything. I settled into a bit of a gym routine after a stint at Weight Watchers seven or eight years ago. But then I moved, or had an injury. Or something. There’s always something.
I’m reminded now though, how much I loved those classes – the moves, the music and sense of achievement afterwards. I’d often burn 700 calories and would always leave red-faced. My hip is still problematic, but perhaps I need to try something a bit lower-impact. Perhaps Zumba. Devotee friends of mine LOVE it. And perhaps it will offer me the variety I need and be a change from the (BLOODY) exercise bike, pilates and walks!
July 6, 2011
Definitely matters so much to find something you enjoy. I would have hated exercise too going through those sprints and drills under such pressure.
And congrats on the progress you’ve been making! Your own race/journey is certainly working. 🙂
July 6, 2011
Thanks Tina! Am again going to a boot camp this Saturday and thinking of trying a Zumba class soon.
Deb