June 20th, 2022
We’ve all been there, you start working out, get into a good rhythm of hitting the gym for 2 to 3 weeks and then slowly start losing the consistency. Before you know it, a couple months have gone by where you haven’t been active and you have the urge to try again and the cycle continues. So the question is why? Why do you find yourself losing motivation and not being able to stick to a solid routine? One reason could be you’re not enjoying the workouts you’re doing, and instead of being excited to move your body in a way you love, you feel like you’re only at the gym because you “need to be”.
I started working out 5 years ago, but didn’t start enjoying and consistently working out until 3 years ago. When I first started working out, like many others I didn’t know where to start. I would spend hours doing cardio, attempt to lift weights without proper form, and didn’t have any goals. This made the workout experience everything but fun. Going to the gym everyday was a chore, and I’d leave feeling unsatisfied. On top of this, I found that my body never really “changed”. I knew I wanted to become more toned and gain more muscle, but over the months nothing happened. I constantly felt discouraged and my relationship with working out was something I wouldn’t describe as great.
So fast forward a couple years, what changed? I started going to spin classes with my mom as she said they were a great workout. I’d never been to one before and didn’t understand the hype, but I agreed and tried it out. And as you can guess, really loved it. I liked the group aspect, the loud music, and the prompts telling you when cycle harder. I left that workout feeling like I had accomplished something awesome, the post workout endorphins were truly flowing. So I kept at it, and could feel myself getting stronger every class. My spin workout felt like it had a purpose and it was actually fun. Once I made spin a weekly routine, I wanted to try something new again. So I started doing a HIIT & Weight class with one of the trainers at my gym (who is now my favourite personal trainer lol). Now these classes were TOUGH, but similar to spin I loved the group aspect, the fun environment, and how the trainer would motivate us during the exercises so we wouldn’t give up. I started to learn proper form, new weight exercises, and found myself starting to set goals like lifting heavier weights. Going to these classes were a highlight of my week as I was super excited to see what I could accomplish that day. I started to love working out. I wasn’t focused on how I looked, but instead with how my body felt and how strong I was becoming.
Although COVID put a halt on these group classes, I was still determined to keep lifting weights and doing forms of cardio that I enjoyed. I stuck to spinning (shoutout to peloton), bought some weights, and did virtual classes. With my new knowledge of different exercises from my personal trainer I was also able to create effective at home workouts, and continue to reach my fitness goals.
Throughout my fitness journey so far, the most important thing I’ve learned is that staying consistent with exercise means you need to enjoy what you’re doing. You need to find what workouts work for you, and what makes you and your body feel happiest when it’s over. For some people it’s running, for others it’s Pilates. There’s no “right way” to work out. All of our bodies are completely different and respond differently to types of exercise and you should never feel forced to do something just because others are doing it.
When I found the exercises and structure that worked for me, my mindset also changed. Like I mentioned above I wasn’t focused on how I looked. I was focused on my goals and feeling good from the inside out. Only once my mindset shifted did I started seeing the changes in my body that I had once hoped for. Mindset and exercise go hand in hand!
So, if you find yourself stuck in a cycle of not enjoying exercise, ask yourself am I doing the type of exercise I enjoy? I challenge you to try something new and see how you feel after it. Don’t give up, it’s never too late to start.