Those who know me will tell you that I’ve not always been a fan of exercise. I actually hated exercise especially after experiencing the childhood trauma that is school physical education classes – shout if you can relate!Β I am blessed to have a naturally athletic/slim body so once I started university and could finally kiss goodbye to the compulsory PE sessions, I got in my exercise by going clubbing on the regular. No joke. Every once in a while I would feel bad and do a Jane Fonda video workout (thank goodness she has brought out work out DVDs now!) but that was about it. Once I turned 30 though, my body and lack of physical discipline started to tell on me.
Suddenly that athletic body I just mentioned was holding on to weight a bit longer, my waistline was expanding from my daily cupcake and cinammon danish (both, not an either/or!) and I generally felt more lethargic and exhausted. Moving to Nigeria a few years ago, I decided to join a netball club purely to make friends but discovered I not only enjoyed getting back into netball but also the physical exercise. And thus began the change in my relationship with exercise. Fast forward to moving to Denmark in January 2018 and I was desperate not to let my hard work go to the dogs. I joined a gym for the first time in my life (gym trauma story for another time) and got to work. Here are some tips on things thatΒ helped me improve my relationship with exercise:
1. I upgraded my exercise gear. Nothing feels better than a pair of trainers that actually fit and look cute, leggings that are not worn out or overstretched, tops that flatter rather than hide or are faded (unless that’s the look you were going for) or just plain don’t fit. For me, if I feel good about how I look in any outfit, that’s half the battle won. I just apply the same thought process to my gym attire and it works for me.
2. I accepted that things are not one size fits all and I had to figure out what worked for me. I found that I really enjoyed classes rather than working out on my own. I particularly liked dance classes and aerobics rather than weight training and basically anything that involved using “the gym accessories” (read kettle bells and any other form of weight). I tried an HIIT class and it nearly destroyed me physically and mentally. I was easily the worst performer in the class, the experience was pretty horrific and the instructor wasn’t very kind. It took a lot for me to drum up the courage to go to another class and I ended up going to another HIIT class about 9 months later. It was still killer but I was doing the reps and getting it in. I couldn’t do everything but I was trying. I’ve not been back because I am not sure HIIT is for me, but at least I know I can do it.
3. I got into a consistent routine. Rather than aim for a “summer body”, I set goals of exercising consistently and eating healthily. Whilst I have never done any crash diets (I simply don’t have the self discipline for such!), I have tried to “crash exercise” where I would work out consistently for a month before a holiday or special event, and then not do anything for another 8 months afterwards. Not helpful. I discovered that consistency is key! As I kept going, it became a habit, I started to recognise people in the class, the instructor remembered me. And actually I started to miss it when I didn’t go.
4. I found a gym buddy. I realised that I didn’t like working out alone so doing Jane Fonda’s workout in my living room by myself was not going to happen. I found some friends and started going to the gym with them. They have since left Denmark or moved away but now I have gone so regularly that I am on fairly good terms with the instructors so they are my gym buddies now. So if you’re struggling to find someone to work out with, it doesn’t have to be a friend; it could literally be someone in your class, or even your instructor. But basically find someone who consistently goes to your class, who you interact with (even at a very basic level) and encourage and support each other in your fitness journeys.
5. I started speaking more positively about exercise. For ages, I always said “I hate exercise” and “I hate the gym” or some other snide remarks about “gym bunnies”. Actually I still make snide remarks about the gym bunnies but I am not Jesus so whatever. Whilst I will probably never be at the point that I wax lyrical about how I LOVE the gym, I do recognise the importance of talking about my progress and looking FORWARD to my gym class rather than dreading it.
6. Change your mindset. I used to have a “me against the gym world” mindset which is helpful to pretty much zero people especially me. I thought the gym was for people who were super fit and knew what they were doing. But everyone starts from somewhere right? I remember my first body combat class, I marched up to the instructor and said “I don’t do pressups, burpees or planks”. She just said I should wait and see what the class was like. I felt like it nearly killed me. 12 months later, I’m still going to the classes, still struggling with the pressups and planks, but by golly I am getting ’em in. So open your mind to new possibilities as you start a new class or work with a trainer, outline your goals and see how things go from there.
