We all know exercise is good for us. It’s drilled into us at school, it’s bombarded at us by the media and, of course, spoken about by the doctors. However, I’ve never been a sporty person. I dreaded PE at school, and between my last class aged 16 and around age 24, I did absolutely zero exercise off London’s clubs’ dancefloors.
However, as I hop, skip and jump my way towards my 30s, my relationship with exercise is changing. Now, I’m not any type of expert or authority on the matter. I’d be lying if I said: “I love to exercise”. I still have that cba feeling before every. single. workout. So, this piece is just for one unsporty person to another, so you too can become someone that sings “I work out” with conviction when listening to LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I know it’.
Surround yourself with positive influences…
I’ve always had sporty people around me. Friends who were in sports teams. Friends who took part in marathons. Friends who roller-skated, swam or cycled on the daily. This never helped me. I looked at them in awe, as I hopped on the bus for two minutes instead of opting for the 15-minute walk. The key, whether at home or on holiday, is to surround yourself with positive influences that you can rely on to keep you in check.
Byron Bay running views
Don’t get me wrong, I know we all have our own shiz, and we can’t rely on others 24/7, but I definitely wouldn’t be exercising regularly now if it wasn’t for a few others. One friend kickstarted exercise in my adult life; while she was training to be a PT, she needed a guinea pig. I remember sitting in the pub, going through an exercise plan, and being so worried I’d not do good enough for her coursework. The thought of working out once or twice a week sounded so unachievable. But, over the next year or so, she was so patient with me, celebrating my tiny goals, framing workouts for my ability and growing my confidence. These days, she holds a weekly Facebook session for myself and two others where we laugh, chat and do a workout.
Another friend of mine got me into working out during some lunch breaks. Although I wasn’t even doing half the workouts she was doing, and definitely using far less weight, we socialised and celebrated both our achievements. Her influence made another positive association with exercise for me and I grew in confidence enough to go on days where she wasn’t in work. These days, she sends me the monthly workouts she’s doing, with different levels, so I can follow along with what works for me.
Lastly, closer to home, one of my brothers and my partner have both been very encouraging. My brother gets both siblings involved with varied exercises, and my partner, along with the aforementioned friend, encouraged me to start running. Both express proudness of doing ANY exercise, even if it’s just a 1km run that day. These are the positive vibes you need - and once you have them, you can start being this positive influence for yourself!
In turn, be sure to show these people love too. Cheer on their PBs and milestones, pay them if it’s their job, show up for them too!
Part of my running route in Sydney
…But don’t compare
If anything looks unachievable, we're not even going to try it, right? It is so easy to fall in a trap of comparing ourselves to our friends and people in the media, and if we don’t match up, we give up. I was guilty of that for years. I would see friends with flat stomachs, friends who can swing themselves on poles effortlessly (and incredibly), and friends running 10km, and feel inadequate. Focus on YOUR wins and YOUR PBs. I’m still buzzing from hitting 5km last September. My pace was fairly slow, but I’d never had imagined having the lung capacity or willpower to build up to that distance. I still can’t run 10km (and actually haven’t been able to match my 5km runs since I came back to the UK #pollution), but I support and cheer on those who can, and keep running those shorter distances anyway!
I seriously implore all readers of this piece to follow Danae Mercer on Instagram. Following her account has given me a new appreciation for my body. We all know the perfect-looking bodies we see across the media and Instagram are not real - if it’s not edited, it's all poses and light - but her account really hones in on this. As I see someone who has a traditionally fit body post the bits the other influencers don’t, it’s finally really sunk.
Find a system that works for you
I probably speak for a lot of us when I say 6am workouts will never be for me. And while we’re at it, neither are evening classes, as I just want to eat my dinner. I might do them once or twice, but they won't become a habit or lifestyle. Since that fateful day in the pub I mentioned above, I’ve had a few reasons that kept me going, from not wanting to let a friend down to using it as a socialising opportunity. While in Oz last year, working out empowered me as someone on her own, rather than fed my loneliness, and it was at this time that I finally found a system with longevity that works for me: if I want to wash my hair, I have to work out first. Literally, so simple. But it makes me work out multiple times a week when I just wouldn’t be bothered.
What’s that thing for you? My mum has a walking app and competes with herself, another friend of mine walks a marathon a week, and another friend uses the Apple watch and closes the rings. It can be anything! Find what it is about exercise that you actually like and make it work for you. Walking and running are great ways to sightsee when abroad, while finding the most scenic gyms could be a good little holiday ritual.
Have varied goals
Many people have weight loss goals, and that’s great - if it works for you. For me, if I try calorie counting or weighing myself, I become obsessed and it becomes negative. There are a whole host of other goals you can focus on too, such as running a further distance, lifting a heavier weight, or getting a larger amount of reps. Part and parcel of this will be becoming fitter, healthier and losing weight anyway! So, celebrate those wins! Have that Friday takeaway! And remember, every workout you do, every healthy meal you eat, is one more than you used to do.