Yes, for many years of my teen and young adult life, I was not active, participated in zero sports or fitness activities, and was unhealthy, tired, and overweight. I mean of course, it is easier to go home after work or school and crash on the couch with takeout dinner and watch Netflix. This may be where you’re at right now, and you could be thinking “Yup, that sounds about right.” At some point, you probably thought about doing some type of exercise routine but then you thought, hey, that’s too much effort, it requires planning, a schedule, and actual energy.
However, actually moving our bodies and being active on a daily basis isn’t that difficult for many of us and we shouldn’t overthink it. A walk outside for 30 minutes at lunch time can be spontaneous or going to a local community centre in the evening to do a one hour class you enjoy can be fun. The key is forming the habit of being consciously active. Just as we formed the habit as a child to brush our teeth every day, or wash the dishes when we’re finished eating, the same concept applies to physical movement.
But what if, there is a deeper reason that we allow ourselves to get swallowed up by the couch and let the Little Caesars $5 pizza commercial call out our name? The real reason to why you’re not choosing an active lifestyle.
Ask yourself this one question: Is there something in my life that occurred that made me feel I can’t be active?
Think about it. Did you come in last place in track and field? Did you stop halfway during the high school 12-minute run, puffing, panting, and embarrassed in front of your classmates? Did you feel too slow or uncoordinated to play on the girls’ soccer team? Did your parents never take the opportunity to enrol you in any physical activity? Were you bullied by others? Did no one support you and help you gain confidence to believe in yourself and be the person you want to be?
Bingo!
I wasn’t capable of doing a pull-up during grade 6 gym class but I’d see the other kids doing it. It was embarrassing, yet, required for one of our fitness tests but I didn’t have any upper body strength to do it. I have had a fear of even attempting to do a pull-up ever since. No attempt at the park on the monkey bars and not at the gym on the pull-up bar for the last 10 years that I’ve been a member. I’ve used every other machine, except for the pull-up bar. I’m a fitness instructor for goodness sakes, and have great fitness and upper body strength! I teach high-intensity classes, do my push-ups on my toes and have chiseled shoulders and collarbones so defined that you could store peas in there. It wasn’t until one day we were at the gym when I was asked, “Jasmin, can you do a pull-up? Do it.” Re-living my childhood moment of embarrassment, I became angry and stormed off, giving up at any attempt of trying to do it 20 years later. The FEAR of how I would feel trying to do a pull-up. I allowed the fear to control my thoughts and actions for so long.
If you had a chance to think about your life’s events or situations, the fear of fitness could be holding you back from active living.
Here are 6 steps to overcome your fear of fitness:
1. Recognize your fear.
Embrace it. Say it out loud. Tell a friend or your mom. Laugh about it. Acknowledge the root of the reason for what has been holding you back from taking a 30-minute walk outside or joining an adult league softball team.
2. Shift your mindset.
You have the ability to let your fear stop you or you can use it to overcome limiting beliefs and achieve your full potential. Couldn’t run in high school? In five years, you could be a marathon runner! Do not limit yourself.
3. Find physical movement you enjoy!
If you had a fear of dancing, then don’t make yourself miserable doing dance classes that you don’t enjoy. Perhaps you like cycling, yoga, cross fit, or hiking. Find the fun in your movement.
4. Start slow and progress.
Just like a child needs to crawl before they walk, challenge yourself to movement that you are capable of doing. Once that physical movement becomes comfortable and no longer challenges you, congratulate yourself for the accomplishment, and then make it more challenging in small increments.
5. Recognize the reward.
Yes, fitness can provide us with the feeling of increased energy and happiness. There are too the long-term rewards from active living, that are both physical and mental. You can start doing squats with 20 lb weight and by next year be capable with 60 lbs, so feel pride in your win! You will become stronger both in your mind and body. You’ll most likely also feel positive, energized, ambitious, determined, and have influenced healthy changes in your social circle.
6. Make one more attempt.
At the fear that was holding you back this entire time. Maybe you still cannot do it. But you can either let the fear rest or make a plan to attempt it again with success. Recognize that at least you tried and have overcome your fear.
Last week at the gym, my mentor and crew of Zumba ladies made an attempt to each do a pull-up. I tried and still couldn’t do it, and we all laughed about it with no shame in our game. I already recognize and take pride in what I have accomplished and overcame both physically and mentally. However, I am not giving up and have created a plan so I can achieve my goal of doing a pull-up by this fall.
How will you overcome your fear of fitness and become more active? Leave a comment because I’d love to know.
*As a side note, let me just say that as a short individual, doing the high jump during track & field seemed like cruel and unusual punishment at the time, and I can laugh about it now because that did not stop me from active living and pursuing my fitness dreams.