I've been thinking about writing this post for a while now because this is a topic lots of people always ask me about and if I'm entirely honest, exercise was the biggest reason that I not only lost weight, but that I kept that weight off. I've been in a solid exercise regime for 12 months now, which I'm extremely proud of because this is the longest period of time that I have ever maintained, and actually genuinely enjoyed, exercising. These days, I do quite a lot of running and people often see me either heading off (looking fresh as all heck) or coming back (looking not so fresh/slightly dying/very sweaty) and because people are lovely, they often encourage/compliment me and that truly feels fantastic, but it has taken a long time for me to reach the point I am at now. I thought I'd share a few tips that I learnt along the way because, if you do it right, exercising is actually a whole heap of fun, and, if you do things the right way, can be very easy and enjoyable to maintain.
1. You have to do something/find something that you genuinely enjoy doing.
I'd say that the fact there are thousands of people in the world trying to do exercise they hate and expecting it will work/they'll go the distance is surprising, but it isn't, because for a long time I tried (and failed) maintaining an exercise regime because I was forcing myself to do things that I hated. It's so funny telling people that this is my number one piece of advice because they either laugh, claim they don't have a favourite because it all sucks, or look at you like you're a moron because who in the world would ever actually enjoy running... Big confession here - I hate the gym. I cannot stand working out in gyms. So, I don;t go to the gym. Simple as that. Instead, I much rather to be outdoors, whether that be running by the lake, bike riding, or sometimes I go swimming. There's no doubt in my mind that if I forced myself into a gym to get my exercise, I would not be sitting here a year later telling you that I was still exercising. Find something you get enjoyment from doing and avoid forcing yourself into activities that society tells you are 'fun' or 'healthy' or 'good for you' because the reality is that if you don't enjoy what you do, there's a strong chance that you won't stick with it or you'll resent exercise and activity.
2. Variety is the spice of the exercising life.
This one kind of works hand in hand with point number 1 in that more often than not, if you do something every single day/every couple of days, etc and it is the same every single time, you will get bored. When you get bored, you'll find yourself not wanting to get up and get active and then next minute, you'll realise you've been binge watching Netflix for 3 weeks straight and haven't left your house aside from a trip to the supermarket to get some ice-cream. Whoops. I've been there my friends, and I have done that, and then I have dealt with that horrible guilty feeling you get afterwards. I don't think there are few many people in the world who can say they genuinely enjoy going for the same walk/run/ride at the same time, on the same days, week in, week out. That is why variety is fun and changing your routine is a good thing.
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| My parents actually won this bike (who is called Gertrude the Green Bike). Shout out to them and their winning raffle ticket. Love ya! |
3. Get Outside and Enjoy Some Fresh Air.
Following on from my gym hatred, I do not like exercising indoors. Now, it is quite possible that I am alone in that strong dislike and that's fine, but have you been outside lately?! Nature is so nice man! My friends used to laugh at me so hard when I would go all crazy about how cool and amazing and wow nature is (and by used to laugh, I mean they still do laugh) but I am just genuinely so amazed and I actually get so excited about being outside and being able to watch the sun rise or the leaves change colour in autumn or the weird duck-like bird things by the lake try and run away quickly when they cannot run very fast at all. I also like people watching, and being outdoors in new environments is a very good way to have a solid stalk. I have also worked out the schedule for the local mens rowing team. And when the good-looking boys run around the lake. Perks of being outside ladies.
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| Here is a picture of me looking out over my kingdom deciding where I would like to build by dog palace. |
4. Get your Friends in on the Act too.
If you're the only person you know that exercises, one of two things will happen. Number one, you might realise that you are amazing and become filled with your own self-importance and feelings of utter success, or, two, you will simply give up because if no one else is out and about exercising away, then why should you? Sadly, the second option seems to be the one that most people fall for, and the easiest way to stop that from happening is to get your friends up and exercising too. Go for a walk together, ride your bikes on a sunny afternoon, etc and have a good chat while you do it, catch up and enjoy the company of other people. Bonus here is that they'll likely thank you for getting them exercising too because exercise realises happy endorphins and usually after you've been active they'll be all happy and full of warm and fuzzy feelings that will make you feel good too!
5. Dogs are love. Dogs are life.
I am 150% a dog person. Just ask anyone I've ever spent more than five minutes with and I bet you they'll be able to tell you all about how in love I am with the doggie that lives down the street. if you don't love dogs, then please re-evaluate your life because you're doing something wrong. I love running with my dog for two reasons; one, I just like doing anything with a dog involved and two, she makes me run faster and that's always a good thing to have a bit of a challenge. Sadly, when I am at uni I don't have any dogs, but I have devised a genius plan to overcome this; I cleverly ask my friends who do happen to have dogs if they would like to go walking with me because basically what this means is that I am asking their dog on a date and then requesting that they third-wheel. It's a win-win situation because I get to see a dog and also catch up with my friends and also do some exercise because at the end of the day, the dog has to have a walk!
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| This is my best buddy, Red the Dog who is very, very cute and my favourite running friend. |
6. Don't Burn Yourself Out.
Maybe about 6 months after I started regularly exercising I fell into a trap that seems to catch quite a few unsuspecting people - I got stuck in the mentality that if I didn't go every day, then the world would end. Obviously the world is not going to end, but it did take me a while to realise that some days you simply have to give yourself a break. You shouldn't feel guilty about taking a day off activity, which took me a while to get used to. Running every single day, every week of the year is just not a sustainable option. I have at least one day off a week where I literally do nothing. Sometimes I don't even get out of my pyjamas or leave the house. It's fantastic. But it also means that the day after rest-day, I have more energy and I get more out of the activity I do that day. Very few weeks I have a couple of rest-days all bunched together, otherwise referred to as a Netflix-week. Those weeks are so fantastic I tell you. Give yourself a break every now and then and always be careful that you don't do too much, too soon, too often.
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