exercise motivation

I Didn’t Exercise Until I Was 27. Here’s What I Wish I Knew When I Started.

By Meg Reichert, MS, CPT, owner of Sage and Thyme Wellness I spent my childhood doing two things: swimming and singing. But by the time I got to high school and needed to put more time into one, I had to choose. I chose singing. At the time, it was a simple decision. My friends were there, and I didn’t have to wake up early before school to practice. But looking back, I totally regret it. I nearly failed gym class. I was one of the only girls in the class who couldn’t run a mile in under 12 minutes. Heck, I couldn’t even run a mile. I was a ball of anxiety. I lacked self-esteem. Walking into a gym, I convinced myself everyone was watching me, judging me. So, I didn’t go…until I was 27 years old. When I turned 27, I had finished grad school and was working full-time at a children’s hospital, interning as a mental health therapist, and studying for my licensing exam. I was also chain-smoking and having panic attacks. RELATED: I *Finally* Did a Chin-Up at Age 32. Here’s What I Learned From Years of Failure. I knew I had to make a change, so I recruited a friend who showed up at my apartment every morning, pounded on the door, and made me run. I hated every second of it. It took me six weeks to be able to run a mile without walking. I was miserable. And my feet hurt. But I was still committed to making a change, and eventually, I did. Here are the lessons I learned along the way. You need to find a workout that you actually like. I hated running. But when I joined the military-style gym on the ground floor of my building, I really started to thrive. It was a mixture of HITT (high-intensity interval training) and Crossfit. There was enough change during the hour that I didn’t quite feel like I was going to die, and I didn’t get bored. After a month, I signed up for an unlimited plan, and after six months, I was down 40 pounds and five dress sizes. I wasn’t necessarily exercising for the sake of losing weight, but it was a nice by-product. RELATED: 5 Important Reasons to Exercise That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss Make fitness a true priority. Heading to the gym won’t feel natural at first, especially if you’re short on time (who isn’t!?). I certainly felt overwhelmed in those first few months, but being rigid with my schedule helped make the habit stick. I planned out my gym days at the beginning of the week, added them to my planner, and signed up for classes online. I used to think I was too busy to work out. But now I feel like I’m too busy to get sick. It will get easier. It turns out, most bodies enjoy movement. And mine is one of them. After exercising consistently for a few weeks, my body began to crave movement. That sore feeling I was getting after a workout, was now happening if I didn’t work out. My legs and back grew tight. I was uncomfortable. If I took a weekend off, my body was ready to get moving on Monday morning. The gym is more welcoming than you think. I had built up in my head that the people at the gym were self-centered and judgmental. I know, I sound like a horrible person. I’m not, I promise. I just have some deep-seated insecurities. I was surprised that everyone at my new gym was so welcoming, kind, and friendly. I could ask questions and no one rolled their eyes. If I needed help, I could always ask. Remember: The first step is always the hardest. It’s never too late to start. I didn’t start working out until I was 27, and now I’ve been exercising five days a week for six years. I’ve deadlifted over 300 pounds and I’ve ran countless 5Ks and two half-marathons. My new-found love of exercising segued into a passion for nutrition and fueling my body with real food. I quit smoking, my panic attacks stopped, and I currently exercise with some of the most amazing women I know. And yes, it’s actually fun, something I never would have believed when I first embarked on this journey. So, who wants to join me? (Photos: Shutterstock & Meg Reichert)

5 Smart Tips for Group Fitness Newbies

If you’ve never lunged or lifted in a crowded room full of sweaty people, the experience can be intimidating.

5 Expert Trainer Tips You’ve Never Heard Before

If you’re paying attention, expert trainer tips (like all wellness tips!) can start to sound like a broken record. Lift heavier. Drink more water. Protein, protein, protein. All of which, of course, is great advice. But you’re a smart, wellness-savvy human, and you’ve heard it all before. Thankfully, in the course of interviewing top fitness pros for our column “How Do You Live a Nutritious Life?”, unique tips pop up pretty regularly. These are the people who are living on the cutting edge of exercise, so their own practices (both inside and outside of the gym) are often forward-thinking. To inspire your sweat sessions (and overall wellness habits), we compiled five interesting expert trainer tips you’ve probably never heard before. Maybe one is the missing piece of your personal fitness puzzle? 5 Surprising Expert Trainer Tips 1. Stop practicing fitness monogamy. One person may be all you need in the romance department, but when it comes to exercise, Heidi Powell says you should really shop around. “I believe in dating all forms of fitness, even the ones you don’t want to try, to find out what you actually like. You might be surprised!” Read more. 2. Carry a lacrosse ball. The importance of recovery and stimulating the lymphatic system has been getting more attention lately, and suddenly foam rollers are all the rage. But they’re super bulky and can be expensive. Cyc’s Holly Rilinger suggests going back to basics and using a lacrosse ball. “It’s my portable foam roller and helps me work out the knots,” she says. Read more. 3. Keep moving when you’re not at the gym. Exercise is important, but movement—when you’re not wearing leggings—is just as key. Dr. Jordan Metzl is super active, yet hardly ever goes to the gym. “I get around New York City on my bike. If I have a meeting or an event downtown, I’ll put clothes in my backpack and run to the closest Equinox. I keep it moving all the time,” he says. “My mother always says, ‘rest means rust!’” Read more. 4. Volunteer. One exercise celebrity trainer Adam Rosante wishes he had more time for? Not squats, not running…but volunteering! In fact, research shows volunteering isn’t just good for your community and the world, it’s linked to lower blood pressure and longer lifespans. Read more. 5. Don’t stress about dinner. As the end of the workday approaches, desk stress is replaced with dinner planning stress. Should you make the same chicken dish you already had twice this week? Why didn’t you make the time to prep grains last Sunday? Top trainer Holly Perkins says that if you eat well throughout the day (especially if you’re adding extra fuel after workouts), dinner doesn’t have to be such a momentous occasion. “I eat so well all day long that often I’m not hungry at dinner. Sometimes I just do a protein shake.” Read more.