DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU YOU ARE DOING IT WRONG, SMILE AND JUST DANCE TO YOUR OWN TUNE…

Beware of the coach, instructor or trainer who subscribe to a one size fits all attitude, who won’t conceive that there may in fact be a different or better way for an individual to achieve their goals.

I have witnessed countless PT’s towering over cowering customers whilst bellowing “Squat deeper, burpee faster, no pain - no gain, sweat more, If it’s not miserable, then you aren’t trying hard enough, e.c.t….

Sure, I subscribe to the school of thought that there is no substitute for the application of consistent effort and discipline in the creation of healthy habits, but what if it doesn’t need to feel miserable..? Could there be a different approach to fitness and well-being, without the self loathing and punishment?

Y.E.S.

Studies indicate that our bodies respond better to exercise when we smile…yep, that’s right, you can enjoy a better physiological positive response to the exercise if you are enjoying it! My advice, find something active you like, you can do with someone you like (a workout buddy is always a great idea to keep you accountable, to celebrate your success and drag you along if you need the additional motivation.)

If the thought of pounding away on a running machine makes you break out in a cold sweat, don’t put yourself through it. Running is a lovely way to unwind and a good cv workout, but it isn’t for everyone. If it doesn’t bring you pleasure, you are less likely to stick with it, building negative associations with exercise, creating more barriers to stop you participating in ANY sport or activity.

If it hurts your joints, it’s definitely not the right choice for you, something low impact like swimming or cycling may be a better option to challenge your cardio whilst having a positive effect on joint stability and health.

“Just push through the pain barrier” is horrible advice and can have serious implications for your long term musculoskeletal health, whatever your chosen activity, be it hitting the pavement or the free weights.

If you are getting that kind of sentiment from your buddy, PT or coach, you need to seriously reconsider if they are the right person for the super job of being your motivator!

If some one is evangelical and trying to get you involved in a particular type of exercise that just doesn’t suit you, have the confidence to say “thanks but no thanks, I am going to try this instead.” Don’t cave to peer pressure.

I am all for giving things a go, but if you are left feeling demotivated and devoid of endorphins, it is perhaps not doing much for you.

When our stress hormone cortisol is elevated, it can wreak havoc with metabolism, which can result in feeling sluggy and weight gain. Although losing weight may not be the primary objective when participating in exercise, in most scenarios it would not be a positive thing to embark on a health campaign and gain body fat. This means finding a style of exercise you enjoy and find relaxing, NOT stressful is paramount to enjoying the many benefits of being more active!

Swimming, riding, ballet, diving, squash, hiking, cycling, roller blading, nordic walking, pilates, yoga, strength training, triathlon training, Zumba….. the list goes on!

We are lucky enough to live in a world where we have an astonishing choice of activities easily available to us, particularly with the explosion of Virtual training ( you don’t even have to leave the house!) Exercise doesn’t have to mean HIIT training until you puke. Our bodies and our goals are all different, so our training should be equally personalised.

You are the best judge of what is going to be best for you, because YOU know you best! Persevere in finding what makes you tick and when you do, I guarantee it will enrich your physical and mental wellbeing immeasurably.