Taking a look at your relationship with your wellness routine may be something to take a look at. Is it a form of punishment or a reward for yourself? How you view your wellness approach creates a more sustainable and enjoyable experience when reaching towards your wellness goals.
Whether you are doing yoga, palates, strength training, going for a walk or whatever you are doing to move your body, it should be enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, there should be points where you are challenging yourself, but the overall experience will ideally be something you enjoy doing. If you absolutely detest running and it's uncomfortable for your body, don't do it, there are plenty of other opportunities to move your body. By taking a more positive approach to health and fitness you set yourself up for success in the long run. It's the same with anything else, if you enjoy it, you're going to want to keep doing it and do more of it. Don't hesitate to experiment either. Try new things you haven't tried before. At the very least if you don't like it, you will have found one thing that doesn't work for you. There is no ONE WAY to accomplish your wellness goal. When you introduce new challenges to your body it learns and adapts to that new skill creating a more rounded routine. By using this reward approach, specifically towards exercising, you change your mindset towards exercise. Once you find something you truly enjoy doing, especially at the moments it seems challenging, remind yourself that this is helping to improve your mind and body and get you closer towards your wellness goal.
The same can be said towards your nutrition. When you make more health-conscious choices, think "This is helping me get closer towards my goal and I deserve more nutritious foods." instead of "I can't have this because...". Once you make that mental shift you will start to look at food differently more as fuel for your body as opposed to eating strictly for the high flavor profile and minimal nutritional value. That's not to say that nutritious foods have to be bland, there are numerous ways to add flavor to your nutritious meals without adding loads of preservatives and high sodium levels. Starting will small consistent changes is another way to set yourself up for success. Trying to change your entire way of eating right off the bat is overwhelming for most. Choose one thing you feel you can keep consistent and gradually build on it.
Now let's talk about the other side of the coin, having a negative relationship with your wellness journey. This puts you in the mindset that you are making your lifestyle changes as a form of punishment and does not lead to long-term success. Look at food for example, if you are constantly looking at food through the "I can't have that." lense food starts to become a chore and unpleasant. Nutrition is a vital part of your success in your wellness journey and you want to build a positive relationship with food in order to improve your chances for success.
The same negative outcome applies to exercise as well, in conjunction with eating. Thinking thoughts such as "I can't have that piece of cake because I'll have to run an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill." does not set you up for success and creates a negative relationship with food and exercise. Thinking of food and exercise as a form of punishment decreases your likelihood of continuing that activity and adds guilt and shame, thus decreasing your chances of success. The same can be said for your intensity level during exercise. The term "No pain no gain." has been drastically exaggerated over the years. Every single time you exercise shouldn't feel like you need a three-hour nap afterwards. Yes, there will be times where you are pushing yourself, but those are for short durations. By training at a high intensity throughout every single workout you drastically increase your risk of burnout and injury, thus lowering your chances of continuing on your wellness journey. Ideally you want to feel better after you finish exercising instead of worse. Consistency is going to be your greatest allie, find a lifestyle change that you can stay consistent with and gradually build upon it.
Meeting yourself where you are at is another helpful tool in your road towards your wellness journey. It's not going to be a smooth and easy ride and it's not going to be perfect. Keep in mind when you veer off course you have far more chances to do different than that one incident. Getting into the idea that "Oh, I messed up this ONE time, now I have to give up." doesn't set you up for success. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day."
Comments