“I hate working out.” vs “I hate this workout.”
Whenever I tell anyone that I'm a personal trainer, this is one of the first things that they say, besides the obvious first question, “What's the best workout I can do to lose [points at body part]?”
My answer is always the same:
The best workout is the one you'll actually do, consistently.
People roll their eyes at that answer, but it's the truest and most helpful piece of advice I can give.
I don't think most people “hate” working out, but I DO KNOW that most people hate the workout they're doing. It's not, “I hate working out,” as much as it is, “I hate the workout I'm doing.”
If you hate what you're doing, you're not going to want to do it (shocker, I know).
Another important component here is intention.
When we workout with solely an aesthetic goal in mind, “I want to lose __ pounds," or “I want to look __ way," we 1) end up doing things that don't bring us joy, because we're not focused on joy, we're focused on our goal and 2) put a lot of unrealistic expectations on what a workout is “supposed” to do and when it doesn't produce the results we think it should we get mad because it feels like we did all that work for nothing and we didn't get what we were promised and therefore, our relationship with exercise dwindles.
Dude, you're not even giving yourself a chance to FEEL or ENJOY the benefits of exercise!
The reality is, most people these days, are working out for the wrong reason.
We are so focused distracted by the way we look that we forget about ALL the MOST important reasons we should be exercising for our physical and mental health (let me know if you need the full list). And the BEST way to stay motivated? Do more of the things you enjoy. For example, I just started going to a dance class, and it is FUN. You'll see me there every week now.
So to conclude, I don't think you hate working out, but I do think you might hate your current workout, and while we're here, I think you might want to reassess why you're working out.
If you need help figuring out what exercises you might enjoy doing, check out my “What Kind of Exercise Do You Feel Like Doing,” guide: Click here
If you’re looking for a safe space where you can learn how to let go of dieting for good, enjoy food without guilt, and turn exercise into something you love to do rather than something you “have” to do, submit a client application to get in contact with me! I work with clients virtually all over the world helping those who are frustrated with dieting and want to change their relationship with food and themselves.
Hi, I’m Azul Corajoria, an Integrative Health Coach, Personal Trainer & Yoga Instructor. I support my clients in making step-by-step changes so that they can live a healthy and balanced life. By recognizing the interdependent roles of mindset, nutrition, and movement I educate and hold my clients accountable for achieving their health goals through lifestyle and behavior adjustments with an emphasis on self-care. Together, we navigate the contradictory world of nutrition through intuitive eating, practice mindful movement, and implement small mindset and lifestyle shifts that empower them to be their best selves in the easiest way possible.
