The WHY, the HOW and the TRUTH about starting and stopping an exercise routine.
So this week I have been talking to a large number of people about WHY they stop exercising.
And there are a number of reasons but the most common reasons seem to be the following:
- Lack of time
- Not enjoying it
- Injuries
- Not seeing results
As a coach with over 20 years experience, I see so many people set unrealistic goals. They set themselves up to fail. Maybe in an odd way, to be able to say the plan didnt work. Its easier to blame the programme sometimes than to take responsibility.
So firstly, when you are setting goals be realistic. If you know you dont have much time and cant commit to 3 x 60 min sessions then dont expect them to suddenly happen. Set a goal of 3 x 20 min sessions. This is much more likely to be achievable and keep you on track towards your goal. You will enjoy it more too.
Time. Now, I hear this ALOT. I get told as I dont have children you dont understand. Then my friend who has 2 children gets told you dont understand as you only have 2! And so on!!
We all have the same 24 hours a day. Yes we are all juggling ALOT. But if your health is a priority to you then you will make the time. I have clients who get up 20 mins earlier to get there training in.
They know once the day gets going they wont get it in so they commit to doing it before the others are up. This works.
Now, being someone who has always been fit, I never trained purely for health reasons. Until, I was seriously ill and nearly died. Now I train to be healthy and to live a long pain free life. Now, I dont want you to have an experience like I had to have a wake up call. So remember this, without health you have nothing. So giving yourself 3 x 20 min routines to do weekly wont consume your life and time but it will HELP your life and along the way, it will inspire your children to know that keeping fit and healthy is important too. Great role model.
When you choose an exercise plan its important you do things you enjoy. If you like dancing and do a dance class as your activity then you are much more likely to stick with it. So dont do it just because you think you should but because you want to!
But on that same subject if you are just relying on motivation you again are going to struggle. I am the most motivated person for health and fitness but there are days I dont fancy doing it. Not because I am tired, achy or ill but just cant be bothered. So how do I get it done? I create a habit. I know for instance on Days XXX I swim train. On Days ZZ I run etc.
I create a routine that works for me .
I have been seriously ill and also been injured in the past and I know how hard it can be to stay motivated when this happens. But as I have gotten older, I appreciate more what my body CAN do rather than what it cant do.
I enjoy what I am doing today as there be one day I will look back on it and remember how fit and healthy I was.
So I enjoy the process as much as I enjoy the end result.
Is it always easy? No its not.
Do I have rest days? Yes I certainly do. I need them, I look forward to them and then I look forward to training again.
I also listen to my body and take extra rest days if I need to.
This is a great tip I find works too. If I am not sure I am FEELING it then I do 10 mins of a workout and if I am still not feeling then I stop. But 99% of the time I am fine and enjoy it within that 10 min span.
Our programmes works so well as you have 100% support from the coaches if you want it. You can message us anytime. But also we offer a whatsapp members forum and a Workout Buddy option too. So accountability and support is there if you choose to use it.
So what happens if you stop exercising for a few days?
Not much to be honest. It actually might be just what your body and mind needs.
What happens if you stop exercising for a week?
5-7 days of inactivity can start to affect mood, sleep, immune system and anxiety levels.
What happens if you stop exercising for 2 weeks or more?
Fitness levels will begin to drop but more than this our mood will def alter. It is well documented that by exercising regularly it helps our mood, tension and anger management.
The good news is however long you have stopped for, it will only take a couple of weeks to start to see/feel some results and within days you will improve your mood, stress levels and the endorphins will help with anxiety and sleep.
The key to returning to exercise is to build back up steadily and choose the best option for you.
But most importantly, enjoy the exercise and know you have 100% support from us.
If you would like to discuss any of the above, feel free to email [email protected] for extra support.
