What is most important to start something?

What’s going to help you be most successful to begin a new exercises routine? Repetition (reps), having great form or spending more time at the gym? ?Possibly all of the above, and it depends on your goals. Arguably the most important thing is to just start showing up and being consistent.

I joined a new gym not long ago and began regularly attending yoga classes which I love, but I knew that wasn't going be enough to really get me into shape. I finally scheduled a free introductory personal training session. I hadn't been in a real gym since before COVID and I’ll admit, I’d been avoiding intense exercise after experiencing some pain from unsupervised virtual workouts. However not working out was bothering me since I know weight training and aerobic exercise are important for strength and longevity.

We often make excuses as a way to ignore things that are important. For instance, there isn't enough time, we don't have the money, energy, patience, motivation or (fill in the blank). ?I had a long list of reasons not to do what I knew I needed to do.

No more excuses!

My lame rationales for not working out were clearly BS, but I needed more compelling motivation to start. Weight training at home had been sporadic and didn’t get me very far. So working with a personal trainer was a call for help since clearly I wasn’t making much progress on my own.

This turned into a lovely and unexpected surprise. Let me share what I learned.

• Standards change. The trainer showed me a new way to target abs to reduce lower back pain. Less crunching, more pulsing - different from the traditional situps I’d done for years. It pays to stay current and learn the best tips and tricks.
• Recognize differences. The trainer showed me a modified squat technique. Instead of parallel feet, she recommended pointing toes out since women have hips (why yes, we do!). ?I learned a helpful new twist on an old approach.
• Intention over exertion. We did 2 sets with more moderate weight and a slower release. Not the usual muscling through or pushing and straining to get to 3 sets. Working smarter, not harder can achieve the same effort without overdoing it.

This trainer didn't seem like an elite athlete, and I likely would have learned completely different techniques at a HIIT or bootcamp gym. ?Yet I was inspired because she recognized where I was at in my journey, which was just what I needed to get back on my game. On top of that, she recommended group classes instead of personal training which were more cost-effective and social. Now I'm back in the gym 2 mornings a week doing weights and spinning (which I never thought I would do). A shocking turnaround after my couch potato era.

How do you want to feel?

Since change isn't easy, we need to create the conditions for it to happen if we want something new (whether that's a habit, job, relationship, or whatever). My personal training experience helped me to feel…

1. Motivated: inspired to do the work.
2. Encouraged: supported and seen.
3. Comfortable: seeing the effort was doable without being a stretch beyond my capacity.
4. Ready: it built upon my recent reading and thinking and prompted me to take action.
5. Committed: knowing I would have support encouraged me to block out regular time in my calendar (which is how I manage my life)..

The trainer joked that my muscles were there just waiting for some attention to come out of hiding. This was the encouragement I needed to feel inspired to do hard things. I wanted to hug her for creating the space for me to reconnect with my body without feeling bad. Instead of no shame, no gain, it was just no shame whatsoever. She recognized who I was, where I was at and offered just the right invitation for me to move forward with ease.

I believe these tips are just as relevant for starting anything new and different. Creating change takes a combination of factors to make it happen:

EFFORT + WILLINGNESS => ACTION

Until you’re ready to put into practice what you want, your ideas, goals and aspirations are just a pipe dream. To make sh*t real requires doing the work. But sometimes we need to figure out what’s getting in our way and may need some help to find a way through.

I don't respond well to threats or pressure to perform. External factors are less motivation than internal desire. I also appreciate a lighthearted compassionate approach with lots of support and encouragement to help me shift. I’m less motivated by tough love drill sergeants yelling at me to work harder or faster.

While bootcamps may have worked in my 20s, not so much these days. Kickboxing was a thing when I had a corporate job and needed an outlet for my emotions. Martial arts gave me clarity and focus. There are so many different approaches and gyms that you can easily find what you need.

Clearly we need to consider our personal psychology, timing and unique needs to understand what will help us move forward. What works for someone else may not be your cup of tea since we are all such individual creatures.

BREAKING THROUGH YOUR BLOCKS

When I considered what was getting in the way of my exercise plans, I had multiple excuses: issues around timing, cost, fear of hurting myself and just plain inertia from sitting on the couch. Of course, it can be hard to change when some effort is required.

When you think of a change you want to make, I invite you to consider:

• What’s your excuse for not going after what you want?
• What steps can you take to make the choice to move forward easier?

For me, it took seeing and experiencing that it was possible. Believing in and remembering my own capacity to exercise (my muscles were just waiting to be remembered and come out of hiding). ?Also, finding someone I could trust to show me the way forward gave me the inspiration to act. Finally, I felt ready to commit to moving ahead.

Progress over perfection.

It's been a few weeks now and I'm shocked by a few things. First, that I've been going to the gym at all. Second, I enjoy my morning workout. Third, when I fall off the wagon, I'm able to get back on because I've committed to doing it.

After years of exercising out of obligation and guilt, my inspiration has shifted into motivation for my health and wellbeing. We need a vision that feels grounded in what matters most to us, so it feels compelling enough to move us forward

An important key is to shift from frustration and resistance to enthusiasm and excitement about whatever you want to create. ?Your path to fulfillment doesn’t need to be filled with fear, it can become about the joyful pursuit of your truth and new opportunities. ?

While DIY is great for high achievers who have the discipline to go it alone, maybe a coach could be what you need to help and inspire you and hold you accountable. Or find a group to bring in a social element. Figure out what you will need to help you create the shifts you desire. It starts with taking one step towards doing things differently and uncovering a new way of thinking. You might even learn some new strategies that can help you approach things differently.

Interested in learning more about what a personal trainer for your professional transformation could do, reach out for a Discovery Call. I'd love to help you bring your muscles and superpowers out of hiding to create the life and work you desire.

To finding your inner warrior,

Lenore