Fall Back In Love with Working Out!

November 4, 2022

Fall Back In Love with Working Out!

Whether you took a few months off after an injury or because of the COVID shutdowns, or just dread your current workout routine, here’s help for digging yourself out of a fitness funk.

More women of all ages and life stages are starting to look at exercise as something that needs to be a part of your life to be the best you can be; especially for yourself!

But that doesn’t mean that life can’t get in the way of even the best-laid plans and gym routines. Maybe you just had a baby and can’t even fathom putting on spandex or perhaps you’ve been rehabbing an injury and have totally lost all your hard-earned gains as a result. There are so many real, honest, relatable, and totally acceptable reasons for going on a fitness hiatus. There’s also something to be said about simply being in a fitness funk. You might still be working out, but you can’t remember the last time you actually enjoyed it. Translation: There’s no way you’re getting what your body (and mind) crave or need out of that mindless movement.

There are ways to get yourself back to it! First and foremost, a cut yourself a little slack. Be kind and know that whatever your reason for falling out of love with exercise (or, heck, never really being in a committed relationship with fitness in the first place), it’s valid. Next, tap into your creativity and come up with new ways to change your perspective on working out. To help, we asked some wellness pros to share how they’ve pulled themselves out of their own workout slump.

Steal their tips and fall back in love with your workout for good.

#1 Respect your body.

Are you a new mom? You know what it’s like to have life throw a big wrench in your well-oiled fitness routine. Despite having worked out throughout your pregnancy, after giving birth you may find you have lost all motivation

You may have thought you were going to be one of those women who counted down the days until the six-week “go-ahead” from your doctor, but when that day came, you may not be even close to being ready to work out again. You may be physically and mentally drained.

Eventually, you may find that the best thing you could do is respect what your body has been through and give it time. It takes time to feel comfortable with your new body and enjoy working out again. Try peppering mini workouts in during nap time and you may find untapped energy reserves that start you back to your favourite workouts.

#2 Don’t compare your routine to someone else’s.

Maybe you’re hustling at the gym and aren’t seeing the same results as your friend who barely remembers to pack her sneakers. Maybe you had a busy few months at work and put on a few extra pounds while your co-worker somehow found time to get ripped at the nearby boutique fitness studio.

Annoying? Maybe. But stop comparing your body and your workout routine to anyone else’s. Everybody is different, and there’s so much more that goes into seeing “results” than the time you put into going to the gym.

#3 Commit to something—literally.

Every time you find yourself on a fitness “hiatus” its time to consider re-committing to something timebound. Join a challenge, start a new program, or sign up for a race that requires you to train you have a goal on the horizon, it gives you laser-focus on committing to meet that goal (especially if it’s something you had to pay for, like a race or a challenge).

#4 Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

It’s kind of like therapy—sometimes you can’t do it alone. The same goes for getting out of this exercise lull. If you’ve been doing the same boring AF workouts for who knows how long at this point, it might be time to bring in some backup.

Consider hiring a personal trainer or signing up for a class you never thought you could do. It’s not a failure to ask for help. It’s a trainer or instructor’s job to keep you and your body moving—use them.

#5 Buy new workout clothes.

Find new reasons to love your body or buy new clothes that make you feel confident. Falling in love with something like new high waisted can give you the extra push she needs to get moving postpartum or after a long break.

Science has shown that what you wear really does have a big impact on how you feel, think, and act. When you put on new fitness gear, you begin to get into character like an actor putting on a costume for a performance. As a result, you expect to have a better performance, making you more mentally prepared for the task.

#6 Switch up your environment.

If the thought of slogging it on the treadmill makes you want to do just about anything BUT work out, why not take your miles outside? Finding ways to make workouts feel more like play and less like “exercise” will change your perspective.

Being outside in nature has the uncanny ability to make you almost instantly less stressed and happier overall. So, grab a yoga mat and your headphones and practice your yoga flows in the nearby park.

#7 Know when to push yourself.

Ask yourself why you’re talking yourself out of workouts or have started to dread them. If you are overtrained and exhausted, don't beat yourself up if you are exhausted and would rather take a nap, but know that it’s also good to push yourself sometimes.

Unlocking your reason for avoiding an activity that should bring you joy, is the secret to jumping over the hurdle to find joy in movement again.

#8 Get uncomfortable.

Complacency is the fast track to boredom. If you’ve been doing the same workout for months and stopped seeing the changes that got you into it in the first place, it’s time for a change. Try something new! Get uncomfortable or learn a new sport. Find joy and excitement in new chapters, new beginnings, and new goals!

#9 Join a team.

If fitness feels like a drag on your social life or the idea of training for a race sounds like the loneliest way to work out, consider joining a team. Think: intramural, adult league sports or fitness classes.

Unlocking your reason for avoiding an activity that should bring you joy, is the secret to jumping over the hurdle to find joy in movement again.

#10 Stop exercising.

OK, hear us out. Falling back in love with movement is simple, you just need to stop exercising and training and instead start moving and playing.

Bottom line: Fitness should be fun. If it’s not, you’re not going to do it. Dance, play, run, jump, act like a kid, and just move like you used to before you cared about what you looked like or if you were getting your steps in for the day.

The Fitness Centre