Do you remember the video featuring Olivia Newton John working up a sweat in the early 80’s video, Let’s Get Physical? For some reason that image of her, in her workout leotard and sweat band, pumping weights with the buff guy in the background has always equated exercising to me. Pretty weird, I know.

Even though most people don’t think of Olivia Newton John when they think of exercise, everyone has beliefs associated with the “e-word”. Some of the most common thoughts are:

• Exercise is hard and boring.
• Exercise is only for overweight people.
• The purpose of exercise is to look good.
• It costs money to exercise properly.
• I need to look good while exercising.
• Only athletic people should/can exercise.
• I’m too old/weak/uncoordinated to exercise.
• As long as I’m fairly skinny I don’t need to exercise.

The list of exercise beliefs and misconceptions goes on and on. We have beliefs about most aspects of our lives but when it comes to physical activity it’s really important that we re-examine our mindset.

You’d have to be pretty out-of-touch to deny that exercise is good for you. There isn’t a week goes by that the science community doesn’t turn up a new nugget of wisdom about the benefits of exercise. Exercise makes you feel and look better yet there’s a much more important reason to do it: exercise is vital if we want our bodies to function properly. Yet there are still many people who treat exercise like cooking or painting: a hobby they’d rather not engage in. If you’re one of those people, please indulge me; take a few minutes to see if replacing this (harmful) belief with a more accurate belief is something you might be willing to do.

Step One: Redefine Exercise

Exercise is not just a physical activity. Exercise is good for your mind and spirit. Instead of looking at exercise as difficult physical exertion, try one of the following beliefs:

• This 30 minute time is devoted to relaxing my mind. When I exercise I give it a break from all the information it has been processing.
• This 30 minute time is devoted to nurturing my body. When I exercise I am treating my body with respect and am responding to its needs.
• This 30 minute time is devoted to caring for my spirit. When I exercise I am purposely spending time away from the pressures of my daily life.

Step Two: Choose a Motivator

There are many evidence-based reasons to exercise. Some may hit home with you more than others. Check out the most recent findings about exercise and write down the one or two that really speak to you. Post these around your house so that you’ll still get out there and work up a sweat even when your mind comes up with excuses not to. (And it will, trust me.)

• Exercise tames cravings. Even a little exercise can prevent you from indulging in one more donut, one more beer, or even one more hour in front of the TV.
• Exercise keeps you young. By increases nerve cell strength in the hippocampus, your memory increases. Exercise will help banish your bouts of the lost-key-syndrome.
• Exercise keeps heart attacks at bay. When you get moving, lots of bad things decrease: inflammation, fatty build-up, and your cholesterol level.
• Exercise makes you happy. Working out stimulates dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, the brain chemicals usually associated with depression.
• Exercise helps you get your Z’s. Forget the Ambien; a great side effect of exercising is better sleep.
• Exercise helps you get your groove back on. Physical activity improves your circulation and gives you more energy which means a more satisfying sex life.
• Exercise reduces cancer risks. Get these statistics: exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer for women by 40%. For men, the risk of prostate cancer decreases by 10-30%.
• Exercise makes you stand a little taller. Well, figuratively speaking at least. When you exercise your self-confidence increases, your mind calms down and you experience less stress at home and work.

Basically there are a million reasons to exercise and only a handful of “semi-legitimate” reasons not to. See if changing your mindset about what exercise means and why you should do it motivates you. I’d like to hear about your transformations…or even your attempts at transformation. Email me and let’s talk.

© 2008 I Choose Change

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Tags: anxiety and stress, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depression, jennifer ryan
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