Let's talk about working out

Do you love it? Hate it?

Are you a cardio person? A weights person? A walker? A swimmer?

Someone who likes to sweat it out or prefers to stay dry?

Do you like the gym, prefer classes, or being in nature away from it all?

Has the way you exercise changed since becoming a mom?

Does your body like different kinds of movements after your pregnancy?

And how do you feel about that? Do you accept it, are secretly relieved you can “blame” your kids for not having enough time to hit the gym, or do you miss it more than anything in the world?

To tell you the truth, I find that women often have a similarly conflicting relationship with exercise as they have with food.

I recently started a routine again of strengthening + stretching (A LOT) and it feels so good. I sleep better, I feel looser in my body, food tastes better, and I don’t have to sweat a ton ;) It’s what feels right, right now.

Women often tell themselves “I should eat healthier/ less/ this but not that,” similarly to how they tell themselves: “I should exercise more, do more cardio and lose some weight, work on my abs so I can stop looking like I am in the early stages of pregnancy when I really had my baby a year (or more) ago.”

Here is something I want you to know:

While I am a life AND health coach and believe in good nutrition and the importance of movement, I truly hate when either food or exercise become obsessive, stressful, shameful, and devoid of pleasure and fun.

Eating and moving my body around in the world is one of the greatest pleasures of my life and when I see how companies, magazines, and society at large manipulate both of these sources of pleasure, relaxation, and connection into something that is stressful, I want to just tumble over and throw a toddler tantrum.

Here is the truth:

Motivation that stems from a place of pressure, shame, or fear SUCKS.

And, it doesn’t work in the long term.

Maybe you’ll lose a few pounds or drop a jeans size, but will you really be happier? What will happen when you loosen the reigns of pressure, shame and fear?

Food and exercise should be ENRICHING your life, fill you with energy, bring a sense of connection into your body and relationships, help you feel great and strong and healthy in your body.

So, here is what I want you to consider:

What kind of movement feels good to your body now –at this moment in your life, in the body you have right now?

What kind of environment do you really like moving your body in?

What kind of exercise brings a sense of joy into your cells?

By moving your body in what ways do you feel a sense of freedom, strength, and ownership over your body?

I am not saying, exercise should always be easy breezy, but it should always be what you intuitively need at whatever stage you are in in your life; an act that feels fueling to you –nourishing and rewarding! Just like food.

And by the way, to get really clear here: there is nothing wrong with using yoga, for example, as your workout. I know many women think that unless they sweat buckets or torture themselves in some way, it doesn’t really count or won’t really do anything for your body.

But I really want to give you permission right now to shift this belief and to begin using exercise as something that serves you and brings your joy inside and out.

So, how do you enjoy moving your perfect, beautiful, and stunning body?

love,

Caroline