Exercise is More than a Beauty Regimen.
At times, we can think of exercise as a…
Penalty for eating high-fat foods
Method to get back to a younger-you bod
Means to look as good or better than someone else
Motives like those can have a tint of unrealistic goals, discontentment, or comparison. When unhealthy motives guide pursuits to achieve a certain shape, the result isn’t a healthy lifestyle, not in a holistic sense at least. The full benefits of exercise are not limited to visual results. Your body and soul are way more important than a reflection in a mirror.
*I’m no fitness trainer or nutritionist, and everyone has a different journey here. This isn’t meant to discount real struggles but to encourage a healthy mental perspective on a key part of healthy living – movement.*
I may not be in the medical field, but I have scrolled on social media, worked in marketing with its swirl of ideas, and lived in a world where human nature leads people to verbally and mentally compare themselves to others or alternative versions of themselves. External and internal messages are common pressures.
Here’s some perspective to keep in mind when incorporating exercise into life but also living with contentment.
Name and Notice Multiple Benefits of Exercise.
Exercise, yes, can lead to visual physical changes, but it’s also so much more!
Exercise can be a…
Source of camaraderie when participating in group exercise
Stress reducer
Energy enhancer
Way to grow stronger
Health risk reducer
It can be mentally constructive to think about multiple benefits of exercise, not dwell solely on appearance. Then, notice and name the benefits you experience when adding movement to your routine. Reminding yourself of the broad list of benefits can be a more consistent encouragement than the scale.
Appeal to Logic. Use Facts and Expertise as Ready Reminders.
Also, when you create this expansive list, dive more specifically into the expertise behind the benefits of exercise that resonate with you. For example, in a period of my life where I experienced high stress, I read the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., and Amelia Nagoski, DMA. In the book, they explain that movement plays a tremendous role in reducing stress.
“Physical activity is the single most efficient strategy for completing the stress response cycle.”
During this stressful period, it was tempting to reach for more Netflix instead of an outdoor walk or a group fitness class. When I reminded myself of the research behind exercise as a stress reducer, the logic motivated me to choose movement in my weekly routine. (Not that a good Netflix show is bad, but you know what I mean – get some movement in, too.)
To Sum It Up…
External fitness messages and internal dialogue can prompt unhealthy motives. When broadening the benefits of exercise, it can take the pressure off of achieving one result. Think about the broad benefits of exercise, and notice and name those benefits. Prepare to appeal to the logical side of your brain, too, in moments of emotion. Know and tell yourself the research behind specific benefits of routine movement.