I like to move it move it.... but why?

Yeah I made a big song and dance about returning to my blog and haven't posted in an age. So what? Screw you. I've been busy.

Anyway – Exercise.

Many of you responded very positively to the idea of me undertaking exercise from purely a mental health perspective. I'm not going to lie I have done zero exercise since stating that. I had all these plans as I was heading into a new job about how I could start this experiment but then that job went tits up so life became about finding work again.

However, never fear, because I think it may have been a blessing in disguise. Instead I have been doing lots of research into how to re-frame exercise in my mind so that now I am in a very healthy and prepared place to embark on bringing exercise into my life full-time. Below are the main points that I've decided to embrace in the coming months. Some are thought shifts and others are just tasks to do. I hope to be able to share the results of implementing these but please bare in mind that it is Summer and I might just go to a park, get drunk on gin and consume my weight in vegetarian sausages instead.

Brain Goodness

My brain needs the hormones, needs the stimulation and needs that blood circulation that exercise brings and so if I don't exercise I have decided that my brain turns into Krang from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is strong motivation to get moving. No one wants to be Krang.

I've Got a Feeling

I'm going to keep a mood chart when I exercise tracking how I felt before I exercised versus after. I shall overuse pretty colours but it will allow me to see the benefits in a more tangible way. 

Ability Based Goals

Exercise has been proven on numerous occasions to improve the mental health of both humans and animals. A new study has also illustrated how having appearance based goals can be damaging when exercising. So instead of thinking of fitting into that pair of studded jeans from my teenage past, I will focus on the fact that I can now run to the big tree instead of the small tree or that now I can do the splits (this WILL happen). It takes the focus off numbers and calories which I have become obsessed with in the past and find difficult to maintain. The good thing too is that these type of goals never run out – there's always going to be something else I'd like my body to be able to do. 

LOVE SWEAT!

I have been known to get a little bit obsessive when undertaking a new exercise regime and pushing much harder than I am able, resulting in vomiting and ridiculous pain levels. This can not be maintained.

Instead I'll use sweat as a marker. As long as I work hard enough to work up a sweat then I've done enough. Sweat is very beneficial for our bodies for numerous reasons including purging your body of toxins to help your skin look great and providing a barrier to some bacteria thus preventing certain colds and other illnesses.

Gratitude

Many people due to chronic illness, disabilities, access and many other reasons can't exercise. I can. My body can. I want to celebrate that. I want to reward my body for all that she can do and exercise is a great way to do that.

Showing gratitude to your body through exercise is a great motivator as it makes you feel good like when you do nice things for friends. Tied into this is the idea that post-workout or during cold own stretches you should thank your body for what it's just done, for how it's developing and how badass it is!

Become an Explorer

I like to exercise outside rather than going to the gym mainly so you don't get stuck next to a smooth skinned, toned goddess called Susan who's face doesn't even change to a slight tinge of pink even though she's running on the highest speed on the highest incline on the treadmill next to you.

A nice thing to do while exercising outside is to give yourself observational tasks. For example, spot ten things beginning with the letter G or find four people who would be part of your ultimate girl band. It takes the focus off the feeling that you may die at any second because you are so unfit. Trust me, it is shocking how easily our brains are distracted.

Time off!

I think it is useful to think of exercise as a chance to take some time off for yourself rather than seeing it as something you SHOULD or HAVE to do. It's actually a chance to do something nice for yourself and a way to take a break from all those other things that you SHOULD/HAVE to do.

Pinterest

We all know how I love a Pinterest board. Well, I have started one to pin pictures from the internet which show women exercising who look like me.  Currently, it has one picture.

That's the list for now. I think it's a good starting point and I will let you know how I get on... after this gin.