Today, I want to share with you my personal journey with exercise and how I found my way back to enjoying movement after struggling with motivation and a negative relationship with exercise.

Before we dive in, I want to pose a few questions for self-reflection so you can evaluate your relationship with exercise:

Do you dread workouts?
Do you avoid exercise despite knowing its benefits?
Do you feel guilty for missing a workout?
Do you exercise as a way to compensate for eating poorly, or do you work out to prepare for a meal or drinking?
> If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have a negative relationship with exercise, just like I did.

Time stamps

The struggle with exercise and lack of motivation [00:00:53] My personal struggles with exercise and lack of motivation to work out after my ED and COVID.

Evaluating your relationship with exercise [00:02:49] Questions for self-reflection to evaluate one's relationship with exercise and identify signs of a negative relationship.

Approaching Exercise with a New Perspective [00:09:51] I share my journey of getting back into exercise, emphasizing the importance of doing it for joy, strength, and confidence rather than solely for aesthetics.

Creating a mindset for thriving and rediscovering love for movement [00:17:29] The cycle of burnout and disappointment in exercise, and offers tips on creating a mindset that allows for thriving and rediscovering love for movement.

Understanding joyful movement and creating new associations with exercise [00:18:29] The concept of joyful movement and the importance of creating new associations with exercise that prioritize pleasure, fun, and health over weight management or body change.

Giving yourself permission to rest [00:20:36] The importance of giving oneself permission to rest and take a break from exercise, highlighting the benefits of rest for the body and the need to detach from toxic associations with movement.

Switching up your workout routine [00:25:34] Exploring different forms of movement and changing the environment or style of workouts for a new mindset.

Prioritizing behavior-based goals [00:26:19] Focusing on consistency and celebrating small wins instead of solely focusing on weight loss and body goals.

Creating positive mental associations with exercise [00:28:11] Shifting the focus from external measurements to internal feelings and positive benefits of exercise for sustained motivation.

My Journey with Exercise

Growing up, I was always active. I loved dance, gymnastics, and hockey. However, in high school, my body image took a hit, and I began viewing exercise as a means to manipulate my body to fit societal standards. During my university years, I developed an eating disorder and used exercise as a way to burn calories and change my body. I went to the gym 5x a week and had a love hate relationship with it- although I enjoyed feeling strong, I missed out on social events and made myself exercise even when I was too tired or sore. Later on when I began my nutrition degree, I even became a fitness instructor, teaching group fitness classes and leading boot camps.

Over time, my relationship with exercise became strained. I felt pressured to work out even when I didn't want to, leading to burnout and a nasty internal dialogue around exercise and my body. Eventually, I left the boot camp due to its alignment with diet culture and the need to prioritize my values and well-being.

The Importance of Understanding Our Relationship with Exercise

After leaving the boot camp, I took a break from exercise to focus on resting and healing. This initially caused guilt and a sense of loss of identity. However, I realized that my worth and value were not solely tied to being a fitness instructor or a fit person. This goes for you, too!

I gradually started incorporating exercise back into my life, not following a specific plan or program, but rather doing it because it made me feel strong, capable, and confident. I acknowledged that while I still desired a certain body, my main intention for exercising was not solely focused on aesthetics. I wanted to avoid falling back into a disordered mindset and an unhealthy relationship with exercise and food.

Overcoming Challenges and Rediscovering the Joy of Exercise

I was back into the swing of things with movement for a period of time that came to somewhat of a halt during my Master's program. I faced time constraints and developed anxiety from the workload and pressure, which led me to stop exercising for about 8 months. Looking back, I’m glad I took this break- I needed all the additional time I had to rest.

I graduated in December 2019, and I was excited to get back into a routine- but as we all know very well, the pandemic came soon after. Gyms closed down, further disrupting my exercise routine. I struggled with body image and gained weight during this time but realized that I couldn't control the situation and that it was okay to not want to do at-home workouts. I once again let myself rest from workouts and enjoyed going on walks to clear my head.

As life started opening up again, I was able to return to the gym and rediscover my genuine desire to exercise. I emphasized the importance of focusing on goals beyond aesthetics, such as improving mental health and physical well-being.

The Concept of Joyful Movement

I want to introduce you to the concept of "joyful movement," which emphasizes pleasure, fun, and health rather than weight management or changing one's body. By reframing movement as a broader concept, including everyday activities like cleaning or walking the dog, it becomes easier to incorporate into our lives.

It’s so important to examine your mindset and create a new perspective on movement, one that is separate from diet culture. Give yourself permission to not exercise, even if you haven't been regularly active. Rest is essential for our bodies and our minds, and beating ourselves up for not exercising is counterproductive.

Exploring Different Forms of Movement

If you’re working on getting back into movement, I encourage you to explore different forms of movement beyond traditional weightlifting, going to the gym, or running. Try different environments, styles of workouts, or workout times to find what works best for you. Prioritize behaviour-based and consistency-based goals over weight loss or aesthetic goals. Celebrate small wins and focus on the positive benefits of exercise, such as improved mental health and physical well-being.

Maintaining a Balanced Relationship with Food

Lastly, it's important to maintain a balanced and nourishing relationship with food. Exercise requires energy, and if the body is not properly fuelled, there may be resistance to movement. Just because we're moving our bodies doesn't mean we have to eat a certain way, and vice versa. Refuelling after exercise is important, but it doesn't mean we need to change our food choices.

I'm currently accepting new clients for one-on-one coaching to help individuals develop a more balanced relationship with movement, food, and their bodies. You can book a free discovery call here or reach out to me on Instagram for more information.

I wish you a wonderful week and weekend and look forward to connecting with you next time! Remember, the journey to a healthier relationship with exercise and food starts with self-reflection and understanding. You’re not alone- we’re in this together.

Until next time,

Britt