How Do I Not Hate Exercise?
Meaningful Movement
Takeaway: If a friend asked you for money every time they saw you, you’d not be friends very long. Similarly, stop expecting immediate payoffs from exercise. Build the relationship over time.
Reader Question:
I feel angst whenever I think about doing a workout. It feels like no matter how hard I work nothing changes, and that makes me dread wanting to do them. How do I not hate exercise?
This is a question I got while speaking with a member on a coaching call. She was explaining to me how she was feeling about her workouts.
She felt dreadful at the thought of having to do them.
As we discussed it, we realized it was (at least partially) because she had placed such a high expectation on what she expected to get out of every single workout.
She was trying to change her body and expected every workout to give her immediate results.
This is an understandable thought to have, but it won’t serve you toward your goals.
Consider this analogy:
Imagine you have a friend with whom you hang out all the time. You go out to eat, you get cocktails. You generally enjoy each others company.
You do this for days, weeks, months, even years. Then one day, your friend forgets their wallet and they ask you for $20.
You give them the $20 without a second thought. You trust that they'll pay you back in some fashion later on. Or maybe the won’t, but you don’t care.
Now imagine that friend asked you for $20 every time they saw you.
That would get annoying. You wouldn't like that friend as much. You wouldn't want to hang out as often.
This is ultimately what this woman was doing every time she worked out.
She was feeling angsty because every time she worked out it was like asking the workout for $20 because she wanted the immediate results. That led to a lot of dread when she didn't get the things she was expecting.
Something to keep in mind:
Workouts are a long-term play. It’s the same as having a long-term friend that is going to take care of you.
But you have to commit little by little to that relationship for it to give you what you want.
P.S. Need extra accountability to stick with your fitness goals? Click below to book your free health assessment call and learn about all the options we have to help.