Viewer Mail.

by

MizFit,

Ive had a theme brewing in my head: “Exercising as a Reward”

I feel like so often people view exercise as something they should do AND THEN be rewarded.

However, what if we got in the habit of viewing exercise as a reward for other things. We all love to be rewarded. 😉 (MizFit note: interesting point. I do think I do this to an extent with my allowing myself to read mindcandy while on the stationary bike. though with mine Im doing and getting rewarded simultaneously. That’s the way I like it I guess.)

So, let me explain – as I work from home – I do have the luxury of being pretty flexible with my time. So, I am thinking of it like this – if I get up and get x, y, and z done at work – I will reward myself with a 30 minute run. Or – maybe, if I cook dinner each night this week (instead of going out) – I’ll reward myself by going to a Zumba class this weekend.

As women, we often times don’t make time for ourselves right? And I think that is one big reasons many busy mothers don’t get as much exercise as they should.

However, when it comes time to reward themselves or actually take time for themselves – many too often choose to do it with eating some chocolate – or maybe going shopping, etc. All of which I enjoy to an extent too – but how about a reward that is going to lengthen your life, improve your appearance and put you in a better mood?

I think more of us need to try to think in terms of “wow – I got the kids in bed right on time and lunches packed for tomorrow… I’m going to reward myself with doing my relaxation yoga dvd and then maybe curling up with a good book (or my husband – whichever is more stimulating)”. (MizFit note: I would struggle with this one as by the end of the day I dont even want my Bullmastiff to look at me with NEED in his baby browns. Im wiped out so exercise wouldnt work for me then. anyone else? do we reward ourselves in the morning for merely getting out of bed?)

Now, I suppose the risk is someone thinking that they shouldn’t be rewarded – therefore – not exercising… well, that’s sad. But, I have a feeling that the people who do put forward the effort to exercise also have a feeling of self worth.

Anyway – this long somewhat stream-of-consciousness rambling email is just a thought I wanted to share with you since it was prompted by MizFit.

Bottom line – exercise isn’t WORK that we should dread. It is a treat. It makes us feel good, look good, function well – and we all deserve it.

I really liked this email. On many levels.

And I felt honored that the sender took the time to type it out and that I played some small part in triggering her Ah HA! moment.

That doesnt mean that we all necessarily agree with her & think that this notion would work in our lives even as good as it all sounds on paper.

Thoughts? Comments?

This next viewer mail simply made me smile:

how long ago was that picture done of you? did you have that arm tattoo removed? why?

Alas, emailer, I never had the girly skull tattoo. The caricature was done a while ago (yet my love of girly skulls remains) and the addition of the arm tattoo was a shout out to the Toddler Tornado who also HEARTS the skulls.

Someday.

If youre really really good.

I mightcould letcha see my real sugar skull tattoo. Purple roses and all.

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Comments

  1. Oooh, please please please please can we see the tattoo??

    (And re: exercise as reward–great idea! Alas, won’t work that way in my tiny whiny little brain. I have to go by the reward FOR exercise model, but at least it works for me).

  2. Yeah, I go with the exercise deserving reward, too, but I don’t look at the exercise itself as a chore (most days, anyway). I buy myself a new t-shirt or magazine if I’ve been really sticking with and improving in my training.

    I wanna see the calavera tattoo!!!!!

  3. Um, now you MUST share the tattoo!!

    And I’m probably alone here but I’m completely 100% addicted to exercise. It’s the highlight of my day. If I get a free hour to myself my husband makes me promise I won’t go to the gym (I trend towards overexercising if you let me go on my own). My current exercise reward is rock climbing. If I clean my house, I’ll take the kiddies to the local wall.

    And AY CARUMBA, Me Amo Zumba!!!

  4. I loved that email as well! I never thought of treating exercise itself as a reward, but I really do love running and I really am having trouble making time for it. I’m definitely going to do this!

  5. Sometimes it’s hard to think of exercise as a reward…especially when I’ve had a hard day at work. But I’ve noticed that I can put myself in a better mood while working out when I remind myself that my workouts are “me” time when I’m doing something that makes me feel good, and keeps me in good shape. Besides, for me, the gym is a place where I’m free from e-mail and my cell phone. No one can bother me. It’s kind of like a mini-vacation.

  6. I wish I could have this attitude but it just isn’t something I look forward to or want to do. I do it because I need to and because I should. It is not a reward for me – on a really good day it isn’t a chore either – but usually it is something on the to do list that needs to get done.

    I will say that there is a new rec center that just opened in the town I moved to. They offer *free* babysitting while you work out for kids 6 weeks and up. And they don’t make you buy a membership – you can pay $3 per visit instead if you want to see your commitment level before joining. (I love these people.) After the baby comes and has achieved 6 weeks and the docs have cleared this momma, it might just become a reward to drop both kiddos off at the babysitter for 90 minutes while momma exercises. Then the time spent with out a wailing child will be the reward but the exercise will be involved.

    And I’m with MizFit – I can’t do the after bed exercise. I would fall off the treadmill onto my face. Nothing left in the reserves at that point. I do sometimes view it as alone time and leave the almost dinner and bed ready child with the hubby while I shut the door and turn on the TV and walk on my treadmill.

  7. Kathryn, I really like this:

    It’s kind of like a mini-vacation.

    hard to adopt, I know, but it’s the perfect exercise mindset.

    Michelle?

    that free babysitting mightcould be all the MizFit would need to find motivation to get to the gym (my gym OFFERS it but the free sitters rarely show up for work. go figure.).

    although I do fear some days I might end up facedown on a bench in the sauna exercising my right to more REM sleep!

    M.

  8. What I love about the human brain is how easy it is to manipulate ourselves. We’re sort of “trained” to believe that we should crave chocolate during PMS (or constantly…), and how many times do we end up chowing down on something even if we don’t want it just because its technically considered a “treat”? On days when we don’t want to exercise, tricking ourselves into thinking of exercising as a reward works excellently. I think that that’s the secret of happy people. Just adapt to things that are good for you and all and you’ll realize that you actually do enjoy them!

  9. First: Ok, Bumbling Band, this MizFitter has exciting news – joined a gym this morning! That has childcare! For $9/hour! Which sucks, but eh, at least it’s convenient and the sitters do show up. They’re also starting Zumba next month, which is a hit among said Bumbling Band, it seems, so I’m pumped about that, too.

    Second: I HAS SEEN THE SUGAR SKULL TATOO AND IT IS AWESOME.

    That is all.

  10. I want to see the tattoo!!!!!

    For me, exercise is a reward! It’s definitely going to be a reward for being good with my rehab/recovery 🙂

  11. As I mostly exercise with a class and its 5 days a week every morning, I dont really look at it like a reward. However, when I have to miss for work or something, I am generally annoyed about it. I guess for me finding someone to play a sport with me (tennis or basketball) feels like a reward because I almost never get to do it. Maybe luxury is a better word. Either way I’m on the exercise train and dont want to get off!

  12. I look at exercise as my mental “warm up”. After surgery last year, I learned that 30 minutes of cardio gave me 2-3 hours of clear thinking. My first 1 hour workout with my trainer (love), I returned home and worked for almost 10 hours straight! I know, most would complain.. but that kind of focus and concentration are priceless when you free-lance your life.

    So I get up, do the mindless, medial housework stuff, and PLAN my toughest work on a day I hit the gym (I’m cutting back to 3x a week.. hard workouts need healing time). Life’s big rewards for a workout well done.

  13. I can see exercise being a reward. But because I love running and working out, it’s a little different. If I don’t get out there for that run or workout, I start to get really antsy and cranky. That’s when I know I need to go for a run.

  14. I too am addicted to exercise and view a big gym blowout or a long weekend yoga class as a total reward. Settled a big case yesterday, and this morning got up an hour late, drove my son to school instead of putting him on the bus, got to the gym at 8:30, and rolled in to the office at 10:30. My wife dances (ballet) five days a week and is of the same mindset; we switch off, I make sure the kids (12, 15, 17) are fed and do homework M-th nights, get Friday night for a long circuit training session. For those with young kids it is really hard, but a good jogging stroller can be a huge help. Do what you can and don’t beat yourself up. It gets easier as the kids get older . . . its the journey not the destination.

  15. This sounds like a great idea if that’s your personality type. Me, not so much.

    For me, a good long run is a reward in itself. I feel great and revived afterward, and it really helps me bust the stress I accumulate over the course of the day. I don’t reward myself with a run or hard workout, I just do them as a natural part of my life. Rewards (for me, anyway) have to be something out of the ordinary, and not part of daily life. Like yesterday I rewarded myself for not going off on someone at work by bashing bad guys on a video game for a half hour.

  16. I like the positive perspective on exercise here. I think if it’s viewed as a reward, something fun, then we’re more apt to do it (and enjoy it, darn it)! 🙂

    I like to exercise because I enjoy just moving! It gives me energy, makes me feel strong and that I’m doing something good for myself, and I like it for the “me time.” Exercise is when I can let my thoughts go, whether organizing my day or pretending I’m training for the Olympics… or the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. 😉

  17. Interesting, Susan.

    I’d never pretend I’m Ms.Olympia while I’m lifting (*wink*).

    M.

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