It seems as though the people who are most successful in reaching their fitness goals are those who’ve made truly made exercise a habit. It’s not something on their to-do list—it’s part of who they are. If it takes rolling out of bed at 5:30am to do their daily walk or run, then that’s what they do.
I was one of those people.
I’d been teaching more than twenty classes a week for more than twenty years. Fitness was second nature to me. Then, my life changed course: I got divorced and my career changed direction.
My ex and I owned a gym together, and I sold my share. For the first time in forever, I wasn’t teaching multiple classes—I was standing in front of TV cameras as a fitness expert and traveling nearly every week. Ironically, the more I talked about fitness, the less I actually practiced it. I felt out of sorts–I wasn’t myself. The only way to get back on track was to be honest about what was happening. These are the three truths I faced head on.
Looking good doesn’t mean I’m in shape.
My weight hadn’t changed; my clothes still fit; I was still involved with fitness research and media. But I felt a decline in my body and mind that others didn’t notice. I felt tired and not as motivated, and I couldn’t deny it.
My weight hadn’t changed; my clothes still fit; I was still involved with fitness research and media. But I felt a decline in my body and mind that others didn’t notice. I felt tired and not as motivated, and I couldn’t deny it.
Doing it for somebody else doesn’t work.
Last year, I was presented with the opportunity to run a marathon. Although I’m not a runner, I thought it would be the motivation I needed to get back in shape. Unfortunately, I loathed training. I cried almost every time I had to run. Ten weeks in, I completed a half marathon in the slowest time you can imagine. Six weeks before the marathon, I quit. That’s not something I do often, but I had to put my pride aside.
Last year, I was presented with the opportunity to run a marathon. Although I’m not a runner, I thought it would be the motivation I needed to get back in shape. Unfortunately, I loathed training. I cried almost every time I had to run. Ten weeks in, I completed a half marathon in the slowest time you can imagine. Six weeks before the marathon, I quit. That’s not something I do often, but I had to put my pride aside.
Rediscover my passion, and embrace it.
Once I identified the physical reason I was lethargic (low iron, low Vitamin B and D and hormone changes affecting my thyroid), I also asked myself what my life was missing. The answer was teaching. It took me years to realize how much my love for fitness was connected to me leading a class. So, now I teach whenever I can, and because of that, I’m enjoying exercise again. I even ran two miles the other morning and found myself smiling at the end, covered in sweat.
Once I identified the physical reason I was lethargic (low iron, low Vitamin B and D and hormone changes affecting my thyroid), I also asked myself what my life was missing. The answer was teaching. It took me years to realize how much my love for fitness was connected to me leading a class. So, now I teach whenever I can, and because of that, I’m enjoying exercise again. I even ran two miles the other morning and found myself smiling at the end, covered in sweat.
The moral of the story is that you, too, can be one of those people who hit their exercise stride. It may take some time and soul searching to get there. But don’t give up. It’s worth the wait.
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