How To Exercise Without Getting Overwhelmed

beth ditto bra weight lifter

After Beth Ditto is done holding her boobs, she's totally going to lift weights.


(This is an oldie but goodie, but it’s really a goodie!  I’ll be back next week with an all new post!)

Until really recently, I had had a strict “no joining gyms” policy.  This policy was based upon good solid reason and logic — in the past, I would join a gym, go religiously for a few months, get sick and not go for about a week, and then never go back again.  Ever.  Plus, I wouldn’t even work out at home because it would remind me of how guilty I felt about not getting to the gym.

I know, it’s crazy.  But I know from friends and clients that I’m not the only one who does this.

Once I learned about Health At Every Size and took the pressure off myself about losing weight, not joining a gym was really great for me.  I would take long walks, do aerobics or yoga DVD’s, and I would do it pretty regularly.

But lately, I started feeling the pull to join my local Y.  They have a pool, daily water aerobics, really new weight and cardio machines, and a generally pleasant, laid back vibe.  I took a tour with my friend Girthful Girl and we both loved it. And since joining, I’ve been going about five times a week, mostly to do water aerobics but also to use the elliptical.  I absolutely love it, and I feel really good.

So how did I get to this peaceful, happy place with working out and exercising?

Well, there are methods to my madness.  So if you’re feeling kind of stuck when it comes to fitness or not sure how to do it without over-exercising/guilting yourself/obsessing about weight loss etc., I’d like to give you a couple of tips how to do it in an emotionally healthy way.

So here are my top five tips on how to exercise without making yourself crazy.

1. Do What You Find Fun.   Just because your best friend swears by hot yoga, it doesn’t mean that you have to do it.  It doesn’t have to be difficult or unpleasant to be really good for you.

Why? Because if you like it, you’ll want to do it, and if you don’t like it, you won’t want to do it.  It’s really that simple.  It’s not like phys. ed. class in school, where you had to do whatever the class is doing.  If you like dancing around your apartment — fantastic.  Great.  Do that.  If you like water aerobics, find a place that has it and do it.  It is worth the money if you like it and it makes you feel good.  When you exercise in a way that you actually enjoy, you still get tons of benefits, and it’s SO MUCH EASIER to do because you actually want to do it!

2. Be Open Minded & Try Different Things. Experiment with different kinds of exercise and see what appeals to you.  Be willing to try something new and revise your opinions.

Why? Because when you’re open minded, you may find that what was once true for you isn’t true anymore.  For example, even if you always thought you had two left feet, you might really enjoy a dance class.  Or, even if you always found the weight room intimidating in high school, you may not feel that way now, as an adult.  If you’re checking out gyms, try to get a free week or day at different gyms, and see where you feel most comfortable.  You don’t have to make a decision right away, and you may be surprised by which place you like the most.  (I also really recommend YMCA’s and YMHA’s because they’re usually less “hard selling” than commercial gyms.)

3. Don’t Keep Statistics.  I mean it.  Don’t track anything about the way you exercise.  Don’t track how many minutes of cardio, calories burned, or your weight or your measurements.

Why? You don’t need it, and it can make you crazy. You know when you’ve been working out regularly and when you haven’t. Your body tells you. You notice when your endurance has gotten better when you get less tired walking to the train. You notice when your muscles have gotten stronger when you lift a bag of groceries with less effort. The point of exercise is not to constantly compare (and judge yourself) against a standard from last week or last year or 20 years ago. The point is noticing how your body feels. And if today your body feels tired and you only do a little, that is fantastic too because it means you’re listening.

4. Schedule Your Workouts. Block out time in your schedule for classes you want to take or working out at home.  Make that time as sacred as possible by not scheduling anything else during that time.  Be realistic about the time you need, including time to stretch, shower, etc.

Why? Exercising really is “me time.”  It’s time that you are putting aside, just for you, to make you feel good.  Putting your favorite classes or home workouts in your schedule is a signal to yourself that your health, well-being, and personal time is really important.  I literally schedule my water aerobics class (and travel time and shower time) into my schedule and don’t schedule clients during that time.  I know that no matter how crazy my day is, I have that time blocked out just for me and I can look forward to it.

5. Invest In Workout Clothes, Sneakers, Etc. That Are Right For You, Fit You And Make You Feel Good. When you have sneakers that fit right, clothes that fit, etc., exercising is so much easier and more enjoyable.

Why? It’s really hard to concentrate on exercising when you’re worried that your bathing suit is too tight or your sneakers are worn out.  Wear clothes that make you feel good —  even put on some makeup if it helps.  Truly, it’s better to wear one outfit that you like over and over again, than wear really old clothes that make you feel embarrassed.  I notice when I have things that support my workout, (like these prescription goggles that I bought recently) then I’m more likely to workout and really enjoy it.

Alright, hotties, let’s get cookin’!  Let me know if you use these tips (and feel free to share your own) in the comments section below or on Facebook!

Get my body love tips, and start to see your body in a whole new way!

Golda is a certified holistic health counselor and founder of Body Love Wellness, a program designed for plus-sized women who are fed up with dieting and want support to stop obsessing about food and weight. 

4 thoughts on “How To Exercise Without Getting Overwhelmed

  1. As a fitness instructor, I find this whole article VERY SMART! It drives ME crazy to see women torturing themselves in the gym and in classes (plus squeezing into clothes that obviously make it hard to breathe).

  2. Thank you so much for sharing, Golda! So you reckon Y Club is a friendly place? I have one really, really close to home, and their website says it is the ‘largest and friendliest health club during the city centre’, while they mention one or two times weight loss as a possible outcome but not as THE BEST THING YOU CAN EVER GET AND TOTALLY HAVE TO ACHIEVE RIGHT NOW. I really want to go back to the swimming pool and take aquaerobics, and perhaps some elliptic too. For fun, and to avoid feeling stuck and unhappy.

    BTW: you should stop using ‘crazy’ so lightly, as it is quite ableist, and go for other less-offensive words. I’m a third-generation chronic depressive and hypothyroid, and the random use of words like ‘crazy’ or ‘insane’ irks me a bit. I really love your website and I’m saving every penny to join a programme of yours at some point, but this is a bit of a problem. Here’s a list of alternative words: http://totheexperts.tumblr.com/post/2763657651

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