The Importance of Finding a Workout You Love

I’ve been around the block a few times with starting and stopping a workout routine. I’ve done everything from Jillian Michaels videos and half marathon training, to yoga and hot girl walks. Fitness, and health in general, is not one size fits all. What works for the influencers you see on Tik Tok or your bestie might not work for you. And that’s okay, because there are so many options out there.

This past year was the hardest I ever struggled with working out. I didn’t understand why I wasn’t seeing results after following some random person’s video on my for you page. I think I tried every workout trend I saw in 2022, hoping that it would help me accomplish my goals. Here’s the thing, I didn’t see results and I didn’t even like the workouts I was doing. The latter is what made it really easy to jump from one form of movement to another. Pro tip: if you want to see results, stick with something! Don’t be-bop from one trend to another.

Try It On

So many studios, classes and online platforms give you a free trial, whether it’s a week or a certain number of classes. You need to take advantage of those perks before fully committing to a membership. Figure out if you’re a workout at home person, or a gym or studio person. I used to be the biggest lover of at home workouts, and in a pinch I still enjoy them. However, I found that I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted and it was easier to be more relaxed about my schedule. Now that I’m a part of a gym that I’m paying for I feel more obligated to show up to my classes.

You might be wondering “how do I know if I like a class/studio/gym enough to commit?” My easiest answer is do you dread the workout? Immediately you might be thinking “yeah I dread the workout. Who doesn’t?” Well, I don’t. Now that I’ve found 2 classes at my gym that I really love I never dread a workout. The movements are tough but not discouraging, I break a nice sweat, and am just sore enough the next day to know I really pushed myself. I catch myself smiling during the sessions because I enjoy what I’m doing THAT MUCH. When you find the right form of exercise, you’ll be smiling too.

What’s The Benefit?

The benefit to finding a workout you truly love is that it will be easier to stick with. For awhile I was convinced the only way I was going to start seeing results was by lifting heavy weights. I started, then stopped, then started, then stopped again. I’m not a heavy weight kind of gal, and honestly the gym scares me. I hate the masculine energy that envelops the entire space. There’s men grunting, and they stare at you like “how dare you take up space”. It’s not the vibe for me. So, I started trying out classes and found barre and Pilates. These classes are full of (mostly) women and the atmosphere is so empowering and fun. It feels like a community.

Since your routine will be easier to stick with, you’ll actually start seeing results. After just 1 month of committing to these classes I’ve lost 7 pounds, I see more definition in my core & arms and have lost inches on my thighs. Numbers aren’t everything, I also feel stronger, the moves are starting to get easier & I feel better about myself. This is the most “in love” with my body I’ve been since living in Florida. Finding a workout you love can be a lengthy process, but it will be worth the results.