So, I have some friends who may disagree with me, but the gym is not the end-all, be-all in fitness. I'm a believer in living your life as actively as possible and then there is no reason to fall into the gym rut. Been there, done that. I don't like the gym, but I know of others that love it and that is great! Maybe I don't like the gym because my only memories of myself at the gym are of when I was fat. I remember killing myself in aerobics classes and step classes and on the treadmill and lifting the weights... I could go on and on. Then I remember jumping back in my car feeling worse than before I went because I compared myself, weighed myself and watched myself in a mirror that kept reminding me that I was fat! Not that everyone has this experience, but I often wonder what women are thinking when they leave the gym and jump into their cars.
See, I discovered that I could actually walk to the gym and walk home - without ever stepping foot in the place - and I got a nice workout. Then I discovered I could get on a bike and see so much more and - whew! - what a workout! Then I discovered I could take the stairs and - bam! - nice little burst of energy and burn in my thighs and rear! Throw on some music at home - yeah! - dance up a sweat! I started walking faster, with energy, head held high (this does wonders!). I started thinking like a thin, active person and acting like a thin, active person. And like that - I starting losing weight (*along with dietary changes of course!!!) and having more energy. And that's when I realized I didn't need the gym after all!
I've seen too many women who are dedicated and hit the gym daily and have a great routine going, then one day, they get sick and can't make it to the gym. Just a couple of days in bed can throw your whole routine and momentum off. Too many of those women never get back into their routine and then end up doing nothing, which in turn sends them back on their old habits of not eating well and self-sabotage. If you make being active (*and eating well!!!) a lifestyle, you don't have a routine to get back into - you just live!
My point is, be active - don't be a gym rat. If the gym works for you, great, but don't think that the gym is the only place you can go to feel good about yourself. There are other ways. Make it your lifestyle. Just move your body throughout the day, in any way possible, as much as possible (be creative!) - the little things do count.
*Oh - and please don't forget what an important role food plays in all of this. I've said it before and I'll say it again - eating junk and then going to the gym to "work it off" is not healthy. You are only setting yourself up for a fall with this thought process...
See, I discovered that I could actually walk to the gym and walk home - without ever stepping foot in the place - and I got a nice workout. Then I discovered I could get on a bike and see so much more and - whew! - what a workout! Then I discovered I could take the stairs and - bam! - nice little burst of energy and burn in my thighs and rear! Throw on some music at home - yeah! - dance up a sweat! I started walking faster, with energy, head held high (this does wonders!). I started thinking like a thin, active person and acting like a thin, active person. And like that - I starting losing weight (*along with dietary changes of course!!!) and having more energy. And that's when I realized I didn't need the gym after all!
I've seen too many women who are dedicated and hit the gym daily and have a great routine going, then one day, they get sick and can't make it to the gym. Just a couple of days in bed can throw your whole routine and momentum off. Too many of those women never get back into their routine and then end up doing nothing, which in turn sends them back on their old habits of not eating well and self-sabotage. If you make being active (*and eating well!!!) a lifestyle, you don't have a routine to get back into - you just live!
My point is, be active - don't be a gym rat. If the gym works for you, great, but don't think that the gym is the only place you can go to feel good about yourself. There are other ways. Make it your lifestyle. Just move your body throughout the day, in any way possible, as much as possible (be creative!) - the little things do count.
*Oh - and please don't forget what an important role food plays in all of this. I've said it before and I'll say it again - eating junk and then going to the gym to "work it off" is not healthy. You are only setting yourself up for a fall with this thought process...
RSS Feed
