Dreading a workout (guest post)

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Please to welcome Jenn.Ā  She is a blogger, a trainer, and a woman I love for her HONESTY as I know we can all relate…

Too much pressure.

Iā€™m having one of those weeks.

A week where working out feels like such a choreā€¦ noā€¦ it feels like a big oppressive ogre who is breathing down my neck asking me when Iā€™m going to workout, what Iā€™m going to be doing when I workout, and am I going to make sure that I feel completely wrung out when Iā€™m done.

And then, he criticizes all of my answersā€¦ ā€œOh, youā€™re going to do THAT again? You are going to up your weights, run harder, do more cardio ā€“ right?!?ā€

And when I start to contemplate all of that, I start to feel pissy about my workouts. My inner 3 year old rises up and stamps her feet and yells ā€œI donā€™t wanna workout!ā€

Then she throws herself on the floor and kicks and screams and carries onā€¦ the 36 year old has to come pick her up and soothe her and remind her why she works out, how good sheā€™ll feel afterwardsā€¦

I digressā€¦

Working out isnā€™t always on my favorite things list.

WHAT?!? But Iā€™m a fitness expert. Iā€™ve confessed my LOVE of fitness over and over again. Iā€™m passionate about helping people be less intimidated by fitness. ME? Averse to working out?!? How can that be?!?

Too much pressure thatā€™s how. Iā€™m striving. Iā€™m pushing too hard. And Iā€™m beating myself up way too much.

When I put pressure on myself, I do it in such a sneaky way that I donā€™t realize Iā€™m doing it for weeks. I donā€™t realize it until I get to this breaking pointā€¦ I realize Iā€™m pressuring myself too much when I start dreading my workouts. And beyond that, the thought of working out makes me feel stifled, stuck, stagnant.

The pressure comes from me having a goal, and then wanting instant gratification. Everything has to happen in Jenn Time (instantaneous) or I get really frustrated.

For example, right now, Iā€™ve got 4 more pounds to lose before I reach my ultimate goal weight.

I keep watching the scale like a hawk. Every time it shifts even a few ounces in the wrong direction, I mentally beat myself up and tell myself things like, I must not be working hard enough; whyā€™d ya have to go and eat that cookie last night; what were you thinking not doing bicep curls yesterday; you didnā€™t run hard enough on Sunday ā€“ you could have done more.

UGH! Two weeks of talking to myself like thatā€¦ no wonder I want to rebel.

So how do I get out of this cycle? I remember how far Iā€™ve actually come. I look at my life 1 year agoā€¦ 40 pounds heavier, depressed, zero passion in the work I was doingā€¦ Itā€™s been a helluva journey.

And then, after I remember where Iā€™ve come from and what Iā€™ve accomplished, I remind myself that if I take a week, and just do activities that I find completely fun (like, riding bikes with my daughter around the neighborhood, or playing ball with her in the yard, or even dancing with her in the living room), Iā€™ll still get all the benefits of fitness. Iā€™ll feel refreshed, and Iā€™ll feel ready to take on the harder workouts next weekā€¦ and I may even look forward to them.

Fitness isnā€™t about torturing yourself with some activity that you despise. Listen to your body, listen to what it needs (because it does change), and do the things that bring you joy.

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Comments

  1. I can soooo relate! I was feeling so much pressure as a cycling instructor to be in shape, eat right, blah, blah because I feel like i needed to set an example for my students. I’m really passionate about working out or “training” as I call it, but sometimes enough is enough. If I take a couple of days off, I start feeling antsy and remember right away why I love working out– because of the way it makes me feel not because I’m trying to impress anyone or set an example!

  2. Thank you. I’ve been torn, and I rebelled this morning. Sitting here reading fitness blogs next to the treadmill. BLah.

    But, now I don’t have to feel completely guilty and bad and blech because I’ve been wanting to play with my kids-Miz gave me a great idea-and now I can push myself today. For my exercise and refreshment.

    *ah*

    I needed that.

  3. So refreshing to hear that the Professionals have “Little Demons” to work past just like us common folk!!! LOL!! Loved your post, Jenn!!! So happy to see that you are finding your “Perfect Balance” GREAT JOB!!
    In the “Process” of finding mine…. šŸ˜‰
    Dr. Mo

  4. Great post!! It is a bit refreshing to know that even the experts have to talk themselves into working out. I battle this one every day.

    Thanks Jenn for sharing this story with us an Carla thanks for bringing us another great guest poster!!

    Now, I am off to explore a new blog!

    Have a Great Day šŸ™‚

    jen

  5. Oh boy do the professionals have their days! And their weeks. And their months. And I may be having one of those years.

    In endurance sports terms, we call it overtraining. But really, it’s a form of burnout that can be mental, emotional, and physiological. What I’ve learned is that on those days when you just don’t want to exercise, when your whole soul cries out in protest over the very prospect, it’s probably better not to do it. Rest. Recover.

    Of course, that’s from a sports performance point of view. Because if you’re so tired that you’re unable to put in an effective workout, what’s the point of wasting energy and recovery time doing work that won’t make you a better athlete?

    For the general fitnessy person/gym rat, a better policy may be to give it just 20 minutes. And if you still don’t feel like doing it after 20 minutes, go home and put your feet up.

  7. Definitely relate to this post. I’ve been feeling that pressure lately, and as much as I love the results, I’ve decided that I need to take a break from having a formal workout schedule. Which is not to say that I won’t work out, just that I will be more flexible in what activities I am doing. Every now and then you just need a sanity break! šŸ™‚

  8. This happens to the best of us doesn’t it? When I hit the workout wall, I do exactly what you do…shake it up, get out of the gym and hit the track, and sometimes I just make myself go and once I’m there, I usually forget that I didn’t want to be there in the first place.

    p.s. It’s nice to meet you!

  9. I have this problem too! I find that the longer I live life at this hard core pace the harder I am on myself when I just behave like a ‘normal’ person.

    Running – I started out barely being able to run 2 miles but being proud of it. Now if I only run 2 miles I call myself lazy.

    Teaching classes – I started out teaching 1 kickboxing class per week. Now I teach 5 total classes per week and if I take a night off I freak out about missing the workout (and the money…).

    Weight training – I started out being pretty sore after every workout. Now, if I don’t have that “wow I can’t even walk” feeling I feel like I didn’t push hard enough.

    What is that??? I have made so much progress! I am down almost 20 pounds from when I graduated two years ago. My body fat % has decreased by about 7%. I get some form of activity in everyday.

    I am doing just fine. Crazy Brandi needs to back the F off!! šŸ™‚

  10. When I feel the way that you describe, I too step back from the intensity and keep on working out but doing things I want to do. I am about 5 lbs from my goal, but I am not thinking about it much. I mostly don’t want to gain it back. Just about every day I put a star on my calendar for working out. Sometimes these are not goal oriented workouts but I feel that it means something to keep on going and not give up and go back to the old ways.

  12. Jenn, this was great. I feel this way sometimes too. When I work out, I do physical therapy for my injuries. And sometimes I feel so much pressure to do it I start yelling at myself if I feel off or tired. For me, it’s a matter of knowing when I’m in a funk and when my body really does need rest.

  14. WOW!!! Thank you all for the wonderful comments!! So glad you enjoyed the post – and glad that I “Outted” myself to people who can totally relate.

    Jamie, I loved what you shared about resting and recovering when your soul is crying out not to exercise. There’s a reason your body just doesn’t wanna some days… I find that if I listen, and I rest, I’m like Nicole, and I start to feel antsy and I remember my inspiration and my passion.

    Brandi – I so feel what you’re saying. I see clients, and I teach a lot too… sometimes the pressure adds in to the mix and it all gets to be just too much – OY!

    Thanks for the great discussion guys!!

  15. It’s so true that we can subtly beat ourselves up and not even know it until we hit the breaking point!
    Good for you for recognizing this cycle and for taking care of yourself.

  16. Good advice.

    And an excellent way to deal with your inner child. It can also help to give her rewards at regular intervals for helping you instead of pitching fits.

  17. That’s right! You can’t live what you hate (or at least don’t like), because then ugly orge will show up. Live those exercises that invigorate and pump you up and make you crave it some more. yeah, baby! I likes that.

  18. This is my week too.

    I decided to chill on tracking every bite for a week, mellow out on the exercise (so I’m still crazy, but at moderate intensity…) and give myself a break. 10 lbs is annoying, but it’s not the end of the world.

  19. I’ve realized that not focusing ONLY on the number, not basing my happiness and progress solely on the scale, is what helps keep me sane. I know that just because I weigh 183 doesn’t define whether I can run a half marathon or not. I know that just because I weigh 183 doesn’t mean I can’t train for a triathlon, or do 3 full proper form push-ups in a row.

    Weight loss is great, but I’m not losing weight solely to get “skinny” or “thin” any more. I’m doing it to get healthy. Each pound I lose will hypothetically help me run faster, allow me to run farther, reduce my risk of getting type 2 diabetes and lower my chances of dying from a cardiovascular disease. I lose weight because it is part of my transformation to becoming a better me, not because it will help me fit into smaller jeans (though that is a HUGE HUGE perk).

    Because I have stopped focusing only on the number, I am just more sane. I realize that a 2 pound fluctuation on a daily basis is NOTHING. It’s not a big deal because seriously, I’m doing great.

    I pressure myself while working out but I find that I don’t dread working out any more because it’s my new way of releasing stress.

    Andddd. I’ll call this comment done. This could be an entire post in itself! Sheesh, my bad.

  20. Funny, I’m reading this after choosing not to go for my run because I just didn’t feel like doing it this morning…So nice to know others get in this funk too.

  21. Oh Jess how I love what you’ve said… how weight doesn’t define you… that is beautiful. And, it’s such a fabulous reminder. I agree wholeheartedly.

    When I started my journey back to health last year, I actually didn’t have a particular goal in mind. I just wanted my passion for life back. And that’s ultimately what fitness gave me. The fact that I lost the weight – that’s just gravy at this point.

    Feeling good, waking up loving my life, being present all the time, having fun with my daughter and hubs… those are the REAL benefits to fitness.

    Quix – love how your mellowing on tracking everything this week – that is awesome.

  22. Been there done that as well! Not with fitness, but with my maintenance.

    Its hard to look at the whole picture once you’ve been there for so long and see where you came from. However, that is what’s needed.

    Great job and glad your back!

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