movement
My Philosophy:
"Exercise is a celebration of what the body can do, not a punishment for what you ate."
One of the most powerful ways that my thinking around exercise shifted was the moment I changed the way I thought about it. It took a good dose of debilitating chronic pain, having the ability to exercise taken away from me, and lots and lots of tears, but I am so grateful for this new-found perspective; Exercise is not punishment, some horrible dreaded task, or another thing on my to-do list. It’s a celebration for what my body can do. It’s a privilege!
This new found perspective has turned my, I “have to” into I “get to.”
how i stay motivated
mindset shift
I have shifted my mindset from one of punishment to one of celebration. It’s been a game changer. Let’s face it, we all take what our bodies can do for granted. Practicing being grateful for what our body is capable of is one of the most powerful motivators there is.
make it fun
Exercise doesn’t have to be going to the gym and running on the treadmill for an hour. Dance, grab a friend and try a new class or get outside and go explore. Move your body and be grateful for every step along the way. Exercise is better for you when you enjoy it.
make it about more than looks
Exercise will change your body and it’s okay to want that, but I encourage you not to let this be your only source of motivation. Shift your focus more towards how exercise, practicing self-care, and taking care of a body that you love makes you FEEL. This will take you so much farther.
progress, not perfection
It’s easy to look in the mirror and see our flaws, the things that are “not good enough”, the things that we want to “fix”. But, I encourage you to focus on all of the things that are right. Focus on the fact that you’re taking the time to celebrate your body, practice self-care, and the fact that your body is beautiful, no matter how skinny you are. No shape or form of exercise will ever make you feel good enough. That has to come from within. No body is perfect.