Today we’re going to talk about how you can celebrate what your body can do!
This morning I completed my first full gym workout in almost seven years, and it was AMAZING! I really loved it!
My daughter came with me, and together we completed a workout routine a good friend provided me with, so I had a plan of sorts to follow!
While at the cable machine, I noticed some profound words written on the wall, and I felt the desire to share it with you!
Exercise is a celebration of what your body can do, not a punishment for being imperfect.
Unknown
This really resonated with me, because sometimes all it takes is to look at a situation differently in order to change its meaning.
Celebrate what your body can do!
So instead of perceiving exercise as a punishment for letting yourself go over Christmas and the New Year, why not consider it a celebration of what your body can do?
There are so many people on this planet who can’t even get out of bed, let alone do any exercise! So if you’re able to get yourself out of bed and go for a walk at the very least, then you’re able to do so much more than so many people!
Getting started with exercise
The hardest part about exercising (in my opinion) is getting started. It’s pushing through the excuses and reasons why you’re too busy/too sore/too whatever to get off your butt and do something to move your body!
But once you get started and get past the initial “muscle awareness”, you start to feel better. Your energy levels increase, the exercise generates natural endorphines to lift your mood, and you begin to feel a little better about yourself because you’re actually doing something that benefits your body.
How hard should I push my body?
Before I share some advice on this, I will admit that I am the biggest weakling in the ENTIRE WORLD! Ok, maybe not the entire world, but I’m certainly not what you would consider strong! I also don’t like pain. At all. I don’t even have any tattoos, because the idea of sitting still for half an hour or an hour while some dude drills ink into my skin, just does not appeal to me in the slightest!
So I started small – very small – smaller than I would have in the past. Why? Because I didn’t want to regret my decision to go back to the gym!
Yes, I wanted to experience some muscle awareness, but I didn’t want too much pain!
We get all fired up about our new routine and go out guns blazing, only to crash and burn, before we stop turning up.
So if you’ve never worked out before or it’s been a while, I suggest you take it slowly for now, until your body gets used to the new movements.
Over time you can gradually increase the intensity of your workouts, to stretch your body further. You will thank yourself later if you do it this way!
Get celebrating!
Remember that even a tiny step toward what you want is a step in the right direction! So celebrate your wins. Congratulate yourself for taking care of your body, and for shifting yourself closer to your desired weight loss intention.
When you do this, you will keep the momentum going because your mini celebrations are reminding you of what you are capable of!
So celebrate what your body can do, and it’ll want to keep doing it!
