Like most people, I first started exercising to lose weight. At the time, I weighed just under 250 lbs and I was consumed with weight loss. Everything I did centered around losing weight or trying to lose weight. I had zero appreciation for my body or what it could do. So, when I picked up my first exercise program, weight loss was the primary goal.
But even as I went into my first fitness program, I had my first big mindset shift. I promised myself that I would complete the entire program even if I didn’t lose a single pound. I told myself that my goal was to complete the program without quitting. If there was weight loss, great, if not, I would prove to the world that I could start and finish something without quitting.
And shifting my mindset even slightly away from my body and weight loss put me on the path toward loving fitness and exercise.
More Than Weight Loss
When I committed to doing that fitness program and committed to completing it whether or not I saw “results”, my mindset began to shift away from weight loss for the first time ever. Over the course of that program, exercise began to take on a whole new meaning. Because I wasn’t focused on weight loss and rather simply on completing the program, the pressure to have results began to fade away.
During that 90-day fitness program, I learned so much about exercise, my body, and myself. I learned fitness was about so much more than weight loss. I realized that I was so much more than how my body looked. And I learned that my plus-size body was capable of way more than I ever gave it credit for.
During that program, weight loss stopped being my goal and exercise took on whole new meanings.
Body Positive Reasons To Exercise
Increased flexibility
One of the first benefits I noticed when I started exercising regularly was increased flexibility. All of a sudden, movement in general was much easier. I learned that my body was capable of moving in ways that I would never have expected. And, overall, I felt much less stiff and sore.
Realizing that I could move my body in different ways, even at my plus-size weight, was eye-opening. This increase in flexibility gave me the confidence to start doing yoga. And yoga led me to develop a deep connection with my physical body.
Challenge your brain
Fitness has mentally pushed me to places I never knew I could go. It has shown me just how strong I truly am. I used to be the type of person who gave up on herself, but fitness challenged that part of me. I learned early on that my brain often wanted to give up way earlier than my body did. So, learning to push past the part of my brain that wanted to stop or slow down took me to new heights in all aspects of my life. Learning how to challenge my brain and how to challenge negative thoughts completely changed my life.
Increased Energy
I have so much energy! Even with a crazy sleep schedule (I have a child with a disability), I still feel more energized than I did prior to my fit life. Before I found fitness, I was tired All. The. Time. If anyone asked how I was doing, the answer was always that I was tired.
I used to think that exercise would make me more tired but the opposite is true. Even on my most tired days, 30 minutes of exercise gives me a boost to make it through my day. I have the energy to take care of my kids, run a business, manage a household and more. When my kids ask me to run around outside, I know that I have the energy and stamina for them.
Fitness is the ultimate energy boost!
Appreciation for your body’s strength
Regular exercise has given me a total appreciation for my body’s strength. Very early into my first fitness program, I realized that my body was much stronger than I had ever realized. And I learned that it didn’t take much to start to see improvements in my strength either. I learned that my plus-size body was powerful and that it could do hard things.
Feeling strong became an addiction. It truly is the best feeling in the world to feel and appreciate your body’s strength.
Better sleep
While I don’t have much of a regular sleep schedule, when I do sleep, I sleep well. I used to struggle with turning my brain off and falling asleep but regular exercise changed that for me. I fall asleep much more easily, have an easier time staying asleep, and overall, have more quality sleep.
Research has shown that 30 minutes of exercise several times a week is enough to improve your quality of sleep. And the benefits happen quickly, it has generally been shown that 30 minutes of activity improves your sleep that very night. Some research even argues that aerobic exercise has the same sleep benefits as sleeping pills.
Heart health
Being physically active is a huge step towards better heart health. Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death for both men and women. And these are preventable diseases (for the most part).
Regular exercise improves your circulation and lowers your blood pressure and your heart rate. It also reduces the bad cholesterol and increases the good cholesterol along with other positive benefits.
30-minutes of moderate exercise is all you need to build some protection against these terrible diseases.
Personally, my family has a history of stroke. So exercise is so important to me to help prevent something I may be genetically predisposed to.
Stress and anxiety relief
Managing my stress and anxiety in a healthy way is probably one of the main reasons why I exercise regularly. I spent many, many years managing my stress and anxiety in toxic ways. But fitness taught me how to release and address these challenges differently.
Fitness is now a part of my stress and anxiety maintenance. I use fitness to release tension, negative thoughts, and emotions. And no matter what the day has thrown at me, exercise makes me feel better 100% of the time. I absolutely never regret doing a workout.
Changing how you think about fitness is a big mindset shift.
Changing how we feel about exercise and moving away from a weight loss mindset is a huge mindset shift. And making mindset shifts can be difficult. Looking for help on how to change your mindset? Check out these posts!
- Starting A NEW Fitness Journey At Nearly 40 Years Old! - 06/09/2024
- 30-Day Walking Challenge For Beginners - 12/05/2024
- 3 Simple Things That Healthy People Who DON’T Diet Do Differently - 10/05/2024
