For years, I saw the gym as an obligation and a chore. I begrudgingly dragged myself to the gym for an hour and a half of unmotivated, unhappy, and low-effort exercise that left me feeling drained and empty. Not only were my workouts unsatisfying, but I came to develop an unhealthy relationship with both exercise and food. However, by changing my mindset, pacing myself, and even investing in some cute gym clothes, I found a way to love and embrace exercise as a part of my daily life.
For me, it was best to start slow. I did not start off with intense weight training, but I instead focused my initial workouts around light to moderate cardio. About 2-3 days a week, I would spend 30-45 minutes on the treadmill, StairMaster, and elliptical. With these exercises, I felt that I had accomplished something and was able to break a sweat, thus fostering an initial sense of satisfaction with exercise. It’s important to note that I was in no hurry — I continued my routine of regular cardio for two months before I worked up the courage to start weight training. I had to be patient with myself and understand that if I were to truly enjoy fitness, I had to operate on my own time and do what I knew was best for me.
But I have to be honest. When I finally did start weight training, it was not a walk in the park. After my first leg day in years, I was sore for days on end, and I couldn’t fully extend my arms due to soreness after my first upper-body workout. However, I also knew that continuing to do these exercises was the only way this soreness was going to subside in the long run. In this way, this soreness acted as a motivator, pushing me to become stronger and more committed to weight training.
After a couple weeks of lighter weight training, I began to follow a regular workout regimen and committed at least 3-4 days of my week to going to the gym. In these days, I would alternate between cardio, upper body, and lower body, as well as throw in ab workouts before or after my workout with time permitting. After a few months of this routine, I increased my weekly goal from 3-4 days in the gym to 5 or 6. However, this wasn’t out of a desire to “get skinny” or follow a strict routine — it was because I now considered the gym an essential part of my day and something to look forward to. While seeing my muscles grow has been rewarding, finally gaining a love and excitement for exercise has perhaps been the most fulfilling part of my fitness journey thus far.
However, I don’t punish myself if I can’t go to the gym every day. As any college student understands, some weeks are rough and mentally draining. While I try to self-motivate to the best of my ability, there are some days when I cannot carve out the time for the gym or am so physically exhausted that I need to rest. And this is OKAY. Once I stopped seeing fitness as an obligation and more as the privilege of moving and improving my body, I was better able to understand that days off are allowed and even essential to my mental and physical well-being. Although it is important to motivate and push yourself, it is equally important to value rest as a part of your fitness journey.
Though I am no fitness guru, I have been so happy to see what was once a chore become a passion. I hope that some of these tips can help you foster a healthy relationship with exercise, too.