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3 Foundations that Make Exercise Your Healthy Lifestyle Catalyst

By Samantha Kellgren

Published November 25, 2022 | 6 min read

Why does anyone exercise?

We all have our reasons and favorite method.

Maybe you like to:

hit the gym and lift weights
go to a group exercise or dance class
swim a few laps in the pool

Like many runners, my goal when I first stepped onto a treadmill was to burn calories.

I wasn’t looking for a new hobby, didn’t plan on running a race, and wasn’t seeking stress relief.

I was 18 and wanted to burn calories efficiently.

Running was a low-cost, easily accessible way to do that.

So I did.

I worked up to doing a mile and relied on my CD player (I’ve been at it a while, now!) to get through the “I-don’t-like-this-when-is-this-over?” thoughts.

I stuck with it, incorporating walk breaks to extend my workouts, but still had the exercise-is-for-weight-management-only mentality.

Sometimes your method of exercise becomes your passion

When I heard people talk about training for a marathon and the fuel required to run one, my only thought was, “Why would you run so much. Do you have to eat to keep going?”.

In my mind, that completely defeated the point of running.

Fast forward to January 17th, 2016, when I crossed the finish line of my 7th marathon.

In the past 8 years, I’ve done 16 half-marathons and countless 5- and 10-K races.

Love.

Running.

“That’s great,” you may think, “but I don’t, so what’s your point?”.

My point is, running made me realize that exercise can catalyze a healthy lifestyle of a balanced mind, body, and spirit.

For me, running became more than a means to an end.

It cleared my head when I was upset or stressed, gave me deeper goals than burning calories, and provided a slew of friends and opportunities I never imagined.

I wanted to eat better to support my training and keep consistent with strength training to stave off injury.

I enjoyed running outside and didn’t see it as something I had to do.

It was something I wanted to do.

As a health coach, I aim to help others find their running.

Don’t forget to read our collection of quotes on running that will motivate you for your next run.

Here are 3 foundations that make exercise your catalyst:

Enjoyment

Finding an activity you enjoy is, by far, the most important piece of the active lifestyle puzzle.

Just like you hear, “if you love your job, you won’t work a day in your life!”

having an exercise that truly is an interest and joy to you ceases to feel like exercise.

It is something you do because you like to do it.

For some, that’s a group cardio class.

For others, it’s a team sport; for some, it’s a video at home.

It doesn’t matter what it is – so long that it’s safe – it only matters that you like it.

Question your workout: Do you feel better afterward?

Being sore or tough is fine, but feeling like you survived it and are only glad it’s over is a red flag.

Do you look forward to it?

It is normal to feel you’d rather sleep in, but a feeling of dread whenever you prepare for your workout is not.

Intrinsically Centered

Mini-lesson: Intrinsic motivators come from within; passion, enjoyment, or a desire to learn.

Extrinsic motivators are outwardly focused:

image-based
focused on rewards
pleasing others

Losing weight and other extrinsic intentions are common and sufficient goals to get you started.

But what about when you hit your goal weight or fit into your pre-pregnancy jeans?

Will you stop?

Any exercise – strength training, dance, swimming, and so forth

A deeper, intrinsic goal is more than an exercise.

Taking an hour of Zumba class because you have a blast will add more to your health and happiness than spending an hour on an elliptical because a magazine says you’ll lose weight.

Question your heart: Would you be doing this activity if looks and bragging rights were taken out of the equation?

If your workout is to please other people – societal expectations included – it may be time to dig deeper.

Overflows into Life

When exercise becomes a catalyst, you can’t stop it from positively affecting other areas of your life.

If you enjoy your Bootcamp class, you’ll want to tell a friend to join you, and you’ll make friends in the class after sweating it out with them weekly.

If you run, you’ll meet people from run groups and local races.

Slowly, you’ll find yourself surrounded by people like running, spin class, kickball, and so forth because it’s become part of who you are.

If the best time to work out is before work, you’ll start going to bed earlier, so you aren’t dragging during class.

Maybe, you’ll start paying more attention to what you eat because a fat and salt-laden diet makes your workouts harder.

Small adjustments will become inherent exercise behaviors

You’ll want to eat better so you can lift more weight.

You’ll want to hang out with people after run group because you have things in common.

Question your surroundings: Do your workouts fit into your lifestyle?

Do you feel they align with your friends, values, and food choices?

If you’re working out to make up for what you ate, can’t relate to anyone doing this activity, and don’t feel like yourself, it’s going to be hard to keep it long-term.

You can only fake it for so long, and it will be the first to go when something you are interested in conflicts with your workout.

Remember, exercise should empower you.

Finding something active you enjoy doing will make you a stronger person physically, mentally, and emotionally.