Taking care of ourselves and maintaining our health has never been more critical, and moving our bodies can help. A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that 42% of the U.S. adult population reported undesired weight gain due to COVID-19. The average increase in weight was 29 pounds!
Make Moving A Priority
As we re-enter life, we want to look and feel our best. For many, it was easy to be inactive over the past months of lockdowns. However, in-class attendance is rising in gyms and yoga studios. Many are committing to getting started moving and losing the weight they have gained while also getting more healthy.
How Committing To Moving Changed My Life
I committed to moving, losing weight, and getting healthy over twenty years ago. at the time I existed in a continually exhausted state, overweight, undernourished, and not sleeping. I finally made moving my body a priority. Although I knew that I needed to start exercising, it was a high hurdle to overcome because of my fatigue.
I also knew that I would not make it to the gym regularly with a newborn. So instead, I started walking in my neighborhood. It was easier to accomplish since I didn’t have to get dressed and ready and go somewhere before starting.
I must admit it was a struggle, but I pushed through. I noticed that I felt more energized after walking, and I slept better. That gave me the incentive to keep it up and keep my transformation going!
The key is to start with small steps and find the thing that works for you! Here are some ideas to help get you moving and keep you on track.
Find a Buddy
Making a commitment to exercise with a friend or coworker once or twice a week can help. Find someone you don’t want to disappoint to assist in holding you accountable and improve the likelihood of consistency. Exercising with others also makes exercising more fun!
Turn up the Tunes
Research has shown that listening to upbeat music while exercising significantly improves your mood. But there are other benefits! For example, listening to inspiring music helps distract you from fatigue and provides motivation to work out harder and longer.
Soak up the Sunshine
Getting out in nature is a great way to let go of stress, clear your mind, and soak up some vitamin d exercising. So, this was my go-to, and the results were fantastic!
Let there be Light
If you can’t go outside in the sunshine, then exercise under bright lights. Research suggests that this will lift your mood, especially when daylight hours are limited in the winter months. Gyms do an excellent job of this. If you are exercising at home, find the brightest room in the house.
Sign-up for a Class
Making a commitment and paying upfront is a great way to incentivize yourself to show up when the time comes and life is getting in the way. Sign up for a yoga class, join a dance class, or schedule a tennis match. If you are adventurous and easily bored, organize new activities like rock climbing, hiking with a group, or pickleball.
Plan Ahead
Great intentions only go so far. To help stay consistent, plan for, and schedule your exercise program. Set a day, maybe Sundays, when you can look at your calendar and schedule your workouts for the week ahead. Include all exercise methods like walking, the gym, yoga, etc.
Plan in as much detail as possible (how long, what time, what day, what type of exercise) and try to address any roadblocks. For example, do you need to schedule childcare? What time of day works best? Do you need to make sure and put your workout attire in your car the night before? Do you need to call your partner and onboard them with the schedule?
Making SMART goals (specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and time-based) increases the likelihood of achieving your goals.
Get started moving this week and see how committing to movement can change your life!
About the Author
Hope Knosher is the founder of Healthy Living With Hope and Hope’s Yoga. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, she is a Certified E-RYT500 Yoga Teacher, Certified Health & Wellness Coach & Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Hope and her work have been featured in numerous publications, including Reader’s Choice “Best Of Atlanta” by Atlanta Magazine, one of Atlanta’s “Over 40 & Fabulous” by Best Self Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her work with cancer survivors, MindBodyGreen, Noteworthy, Mantra Yoga & Health and cover features with Northside Woman and Yoga Magazine.
Hope’s weekly yoga classes are open to everyone in Johns Creek, Georgia, and the surrounding area. She also offers corporate yoga & meditation, wellness coaching, and workshops. Hope is also a regular guest speaker on Yoga, Mindfulness, and Health & Wellness topics. Learn more about Hope. Contact Hope here or subscribe to future posts here.
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