To be body positive means you accept your body regardless of your physical ability, size, gender, race, or appearance. If you’re on a journey to love yourself and your body through exercise, it’s important to note that it takes time. Self-love and body positivity don’t happen overnight, so here are a few ways to help get you started on feeling your best!
Redefine Your Goals
This is crucial to having a positive relationship with your body and exercise. Stop making your reasoning to work out solely about losing weight, or depriving yourself of certain foods. With exercise weight loss will come, but there are other important (and more positive) rewards as well. Goals such as improving confidence, strength, and endurance can help to motivate you and make working out a more fulfilling experience overall. If you’re unsure of where to begin, consider setting realistic and attainable fitness goals in order to achieve long-term success.
Skip Comparison and Judgement
It can be very easy to see others around you and compare your body and progress to theirs. However, you must try your best to focus on yourself. Everyone is on their own journey, and that includes you. Take the time to appreciate where you are on your path to better health and lifestyle and celebrate those around you as well. To reinforce your positive thoughts about yourself and exercise, consider repeating positive affirmations before, during, and after you work up a sweat. Here are a few to get you started:
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I am strong
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I am beautiful
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My hard work is paying off
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I am more than my weight
By practicing these sayings, among others, you are setting yourself up for a successful workout.
Be in Tune with Your Time of the Month
For some women, there might not be anything more uncomfortable than working out during their menstrual cycle. Between cramps, fatigue, and fear of leakage, it can be difficult to feel like you’ve accomplished a successful workout. Although it may feel like an uphill battle, exercise can actually decrease PMS symptoms, alleviate cramps, all while enhancing your mood. But what about those pesky leakage issues? A menstrual cup is a great alternative to tampons and pads, as it can prevent leaks for up to twelve hours. Additionally, many users say not only are they comfortable, but you don’t even notice they’re there, making movement a breeze.
Did you know that you can sync exercise with your cycle to have a more fulfilling workout? It’s important to listen to your body throughout your period; for example, during the first 3-7 days, you may experience more fatigue than usual which may suggest you take a rest day or turn to restorative activities such as yoga. The next 7-10 days are perfect for switching up your routine, whether it's a new class or attempting that new lift you’ve been wanting to do. The following three to five days will bring you high energy levels which you should take full advantage of by participating in more vigorous exercises. The final 10-14 days of your cycle are also excellent for high-intensity activities such as weight training and running. However, be sure to end your week with lighter activities to bring you back to the beginning of your cycle again.
Do Activities You Enjoy
Working out should be enjoyable, especially if you’re incorporating it into your daily routine. Don’t focus on just running or weightlifting to get your fix. Yoga, Pilates, and cycling are just some of the ways you can increase your heart rate. What’s most important is that you focus on you, your body, and how you’re feeling throughout each exercise as well as after.
If weightlifting happens to be your preferred cup of tea, there are still ways to get your lift in at home. Home gyms are excellent for keeping up with your routine whether you are unable, or prefer not to go to a public facility. These are perfect for anyone looking to improve the physical aspect of their life because there’s such a wide variety of new exercise machines to help you curate the perfect workout from the comfort of your home.
No matter where you are in your journey, it’s important to remain positive and have fun with it, you and your body will thank you for it in the long run!
For more tips on achieving your fitness goals, we recommend these articles: Resolutions Got You Down?, Get Fit in the Gym, Lose Weight in the Kitchen, 5 Tips to Stop Treadmill Static, How to Set Your New Year Fitness Goals, It's Not About Getting Skinny.
If you’re ready to take the next steps in your fitness journey, contact the experts at G&G Fitness Equipment today, use the chat feature on the bottom right of this window to connect live with a G&G expert, or stop into a G&G Fitness Equipment showroom and let us show you why we are the best specialty fitness equipment retailer in the northeast.
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