Life

Make 2015 the year you learn to love exercise

January 5, 2015

fitnessMy mum is someone who seriously sweats it out at the gym six out of every seven days.  She’s done this consistently for the last five years. She is, without a doubt, the most physically strong woman I know. But when I asked her how one of her sessions had gone last week, she turned to me and said, ‘I hated it. I really didn’t want to go. All the way there I was just thinking about how much I didn’t want to go. But I made myself. I never want to go. I always have to make myself.’

Let’s pause here for a second to give this woman some serious praise for consistently practising something she always dreads. Then let’s all agree that life is way too short to be doing things you hate in your precious free time, no matter how good for you they are. I really don’t think exercise should be seen as a chore. It is an incredibly positive thing to do – and not just to help you shed excess weight.

There’s no getting away from it: exercise is good for you. The body wants to work and you will be rewarded for your sweat and labour by improved health and fitness. We all know this, but I did just want to pick up on a couple of points that I think sometimes get overlooked and are the major motivators for me when it comes to getting off my arse and doing something.

The first is the mood-enhancing, life-affirming, off-your-face-on-those-post-exercise-endorphins properties of a vigorous workout. Exercising makes you feel good. It boosts your mood, provides a way to work out stresses, clears the mind, gives you energy and has you sleeping more soundly. If this was the only positive outcome of a regular exercise routine, I would still stick to one.

The second is – and stick with me here if you share my mother’s exercise philosophy – it’s FUN. Or at least it is once you find the activity that’s for you. I firmly believe that there is a sport or physical activity of some type out there to suit everyone. The choice is not between your couch and pounding the mechanical pavement at an overcrowded, over-priced gym. There are so many options in between, and so it’s just a case of experimenting. I promise you that once you find it, it’ll be worth it.

Even though I’m personally against making New Year’s resolutions (I refuse to attempt radical life changes in the depths of winter when I’m flat broke and on a post-Christmas downer), January is a time when lots of other people decide to make positive alterations to their lifestyles. That’s why this month we’ll be sharing what works for us exercise-wise, and our personal experiences, in a bid to inspire you to form a new exercise habit or just try something new. Personally I’m always excited to try new things, so please let me know what you’re into – particularly if it’s korfball. I’m really curious about korfball at the moment.

More in the Love Exercise series:

How I went from couch to 5k

Why swimming is the sport of choice for super-heroes

5 reasons to get into netball this year

My favourite Youtube videos for working out at home

What exercise do you love? How did you get into it? Please get the conversation going by leaving a comment below.

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9 Comments

  • mummascribbles@hotmail.com'
    Reply Lisa (mummascribbles) January 8, 2015 at 11:02 am

    I do love the feeling of exercise – once I get over the mentality of I don’t really want to do, this, once I’ve done it, I feel great both physically and mentally. I did Zumba for ages, once a week and I do miss it. I exercise at home at the moment but I think once this nasty weather/winter has passed, I’ll try and find a local class (we recently moved) and start up again.

    • Reply Rose January 10, 2015 at 3:53 pm

      I think getting (back) into it is the hardest part. Thanks for commenting x

  • Ercantrell@gmail.com'
    Reply Emma January 10, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    Chris played korfball at uni!

    • Reply Rose January 10, 2015 at 3:53 pm

      Well! That’s ALL I’m going to want to talk to him about next time I see him! xo

  • Mum@honestmum.com'
    Reply HonestMum January 10, 2015 at 11:25 pm

    How lovely, I think spring time is naturally a time for new beginnings and after the reflection of the Christmas period people are ready to start over or get motivated about exercise or good food again. Looking forward to reading your journey. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts

    • Reply Rose January 12, 2015 at 8:20 pm

      What a lovely comment, thank you. I was 100% against resolutions until I saw a friend the other day who feels completely inspired and challenged by a New Year and was embracing all her resolutions with such energy and it was a little bit infectious!

  • youbabymemummy@gmail.com'
    Reply You Baby Me Mummy January 11, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Your mum sounds awesome! I am not sure you will ever convert me to liking exercise 🙂 All valid points though! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

    • Reply Rose January 12, 2015 at 8:18 pm

      Haha thanks! She definitely is! Yes, a lot of people say that but I still believe there’s an activity for everyone! x

  • j.diwell@hotmail.co.uk'
    Reply Jo March 17, 2015 at 4:21 pm

    I too love zumba. I think it’s the dancing coupled with generally great music and finding a teacher whose style you like, as there are different ones. It doesn’t matter if you’re not overly co ordinated. At the other end I love Pilates so relaxing and great for stretching out all those aches and pains

  • Leave a Reply to Rose Cancel Reply