Since I’m an elite athlete, you might think I fly out of bed each morning, and with my first breath look to the heavens and give thanks for working out. Well, that would be like saying I enjoy folding laundry and hanging out at the DMV. You can fall in love with chocolate, a human, or even a glorious location—but falling in love with fitness isn’t so simple.
Thing is, it is easy to fall deeply in love with how fitness makes you feel, and the positive effects it can have on your life. Over the past several years, I have fallen passionately in love with the way movement has improved my life. At first, exercise was simply a tool to help me play better volleyball. But now, it’s a way for me to have more energy to win at everything else. Here’s how I learned to love fitness, and ways you can make it work for you, too:
Get Up and Go
One of the best ways to jumpstart your fitness life (you can fall in love with it later; think of it as an arranged marriage and “Mama knows best,” for now) is to exercise first thing in the morning, right when you wake up. I have a friend who doesn’t even check his phone until after he has trained. hones can be a huge time-suck and, believe me, 99.9% of the stuff on them can wait. If you get caught up with work or family obligations, the first thing to take the hit will be your training time. Get it done early.
Tap Your Network
People typically have a 75% greater chance of meeting their fitness and health goals when held accountable for them—and one of the best ways to stay accountable? Create a fitness community to help stay on track. Your Fitbit dashboard is especially useful, because you can add friends, share your goals and data, and motivate each other to keep going. You can also tap into a larger Fitbit community through your Facebook friends and contacts.
Make a Habit
Creating and changing habits can take days, weeks, or even months. Whatever you do, DON’T GIVE UP! Set a weekly exercise goal in the Fitbit app and try to stay on a regular movement regimen for at least 30 days. If you miss a day, don’t sweat it—simply get after it the next morning. Lean on your Fitbit tracker here, too: It will objectively show your improvement, which is especially helpful during the first few weeks of any fitness plan, when you might feel tired and not see or feel any earth-shaking results. Those will come. Trust me.
Rest and Recover
You will perform better—and be better able to love your workouts—if you give your muscles a chance to rest. Recovery can mean a day off from the gym or an easy walk the day after a tough strength session. One thing it always means is sleep—that’s when the body releases HGH, or Human Growth Hormone, which helps your muscles repair. I struggle with sleeping soundly, so I rely on my Fitbit tracker to track my personal sleep trends. I can either give myself a mini pat on the back, or see why I’m dragging through my week. I can then match how I sleep to my activities, so I can figure out how to get better Z’s.
Gear Up
It might sound superficial, but the right clothing and gear can do wonders when it comes to motivation. I use new kicks or cute tights to perk me up, or at least make me “look good to feel good.” Colors can reflect your mood and when they’re bright or cheerful, also help create a good one. There are some days when you need do whatever it takes.
Pick Your Favorites
Part of falling in love with anything is to experience some level of enjoyment—and at least you need to like whatever you’re doing. Some people can’t stomach exercising in a gym for example, so their best bet might be running or cycling outside, or a boot camp. Other folks love yoga. While it’s important to incorporate strength training and cardio in a fitness routine, it’s also key to do what you love. Why torture yourself with an activity you hate? It’s not realistic for everyday living. It would be like coming home to your husband and having him immediately run into the other room on a daily basis. It just wouldn’t work for ‘love.’
Be honest, are you in love with fitness? Join the conversation below and tell me how great exercising makes you feel!
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
Gabby Reece
World-renowned athlete, New York Times bestselling author, wife, and mother. Gabrielle Reece is a former professional beach volleyball player and was Nike’s first female spokeswoman. She has a passion for healthy living and fitness, which has shaped her career and makes her a popular leader in the world of health and wellness.
I have recently fallen in love with fitness after reaching a SUPER high weight that I will not number here. Lol! I decided to make some solid decisions and figure out what I love to do. I’m not the greatest morning person, so I decided to work out after work when I can dedicate the time I need and work on form instead of rushing so I won’t be late for work. I’m in love with it because I’m exploring new things with food and my body that I didn’t know before. It has definitely had its frustrating moments when I thought I was doing something correctly only to find that it didn’t fit my goals, but that’s all part of falling…not everything you learn is perfect or suited for you. It’s been a pretty great journey so far and I’m looking forward to seeing even more progress.
I always feel better after a great workout or a long brisk walk!!!!
I try so hard, but, my biddy is always in passion.
I used to be very active. I was a runner in my younger years. last year, I broke my elbow and even before for awhile, was not moving at all. The elbow was the last straw. I got so complacent, it was work to walk a mile.
Since I realized that I was feeling so sluggish, I stated to walk. And now, it is so easy to walk 3.5-4 miles a day. And I feel so much better, and look better than I had in years. And it is just walking. My dog Sam, loves to go with me so I always have some good company. And, it gives me time to reflect and sort out my day. What a blessing!
Great to hear! Walking is wonderful so keep it up. I’m blessed with two wonderful parks very close by so I make good use of them. I love to be amongst the trees and to see how the colours change over the seasons! And it quickly adds to the step-count in the day. Whatever the weather – off I go. It makes you feel so much better and my whole body feels stronger too. It’s good to see and feel the improvement! Keep walking!
I try to walk in late evening hours, it seems to be a quite time for me. Only time I don’t walk is in a down pour, lite rain is nothing to me. Teens you can always dress up or down for the weather.
I’m now looking into joining a gym to build up my body strength and at the same time slim the waist.
I compare my workouts to cleaning house. You dread to get started but once you finish you feel good about what you accomplished.
I really miss my walks and even my exercise routines. I had some health conditions that first slowed this all down to coming to a complete halt due to it and having to go through two surgeries in ’16. Which I will hopefully be released from my Dr. in the next week and half to go back to work. I will be finding out what I can and can’t do when I see her soon. I am so looking forward to getting my life back and have so many things to get caught up on since I had to become literally a couch potato last year and thus the same this yr. But, I am on the mend and soon this will end and then the work begins. I have so many things planned nutritionally, physically (cardio, resistance training, walking) to loose weight and get healthier; hoping to get off some medications. As well as getting my home clean which was only done a few times last year. It is driving me crazy to look at it.
I have been an athlete all of my life – a three sport athlete throughout high school and I also competed at the Division II level for softball. After enduring four years of someone telling me what to do, it was hard for me to motivate myself. It has been two years since I last competed at the collegiate level and Fitbit has taught me how to motivate myself!
I am sadly an on again and off again exercise person. I always feel better when I am active, so finally just before turning 67 I bought a fit bit and have been meeting and exceeding my challenge goal almost every day. I enjoy walking and live in a beautiful area where my choice of walk is down to the lighthouse or the longer way along the water to the harbor. I so look forward to my walks now. It is also great when my husband joins me. My daughter invites me to weekly and weekend challenges to keep me motivated, which I really like.
I walk a couple of dogs daily and do 2 to 3 miles but ive very recently upped my saturday game. Im preparing for a charity walk only 12 miles(18k) so have started walking on saturdays and resting sundays. Today i managed 11 1/2 miles in wellies(muddy weather) so not bad. I have found that if i set my route and plan it from early in the week and spread the word, do some weekend challenges i keep to my plan better. No getting out of it if others know.
Have been an on and off work out type of gal myself. But this year I’m setting a goal of running a 5k. Using the fitbit to track heart rates, to make sure I’m not pushing it too hard is helping. I’m 42 and don’t want to abuse my body, but really would love to move more and build some muscle 😉
Thanks for the tips. I was an avid workout junkie many moons ago 20’s and 30’s. 6mile runs daily then burned out. In 40’s coached soccer but then completely stopped. At 52, need to begin the regime again! Need to be healthy and fit! Congratulations to all who are out there trying!!
I’ve ridden horses all my life, but one of my horses retired 4 years ago and my young horse was too young to ride until now but over the last 4 years I’ve gain about a 23 lb and lost my riding condition so I need to regain my fitness so that I can be a partner for my horse and not a passenger. Not a lover of the gym so I’m struggling to get back into it but I’m committed to my horse so that motivates me to commit to getting fit.