Workout Epiphany

Workout Epiphany

Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve come along. This weekend at HLS we talked about how people should exercise to be strong, not skinny.

Me Back Then

I hadn’t really thought about it in the longest time, but that is exactly why I exercise! Why is this a big deal? Because I have had, in the past, the frame of mind where I wanted to exercise for the sole purpose of being skinny or losing weight. I would force myself to workout for fear of “getting fat”…or to shed some pounds/dress-sizes. It’s been such a long time since I had those negative workout thoughts that I almost didn’t remember how awful they can be. I’m so happy to have pointed myself in a more positive direction.

Me Now

Nowadays, I love to workout! I workout because it’s fun. Because I feel so amazing afterwards. Because I think it’s a good challenge. Because I like to dance. Because I’m thankful that my body allows me to workout. Now…I work out because I want to. The goal is no longer weight/size driven – it’s because I genuinely love to do it! I’m so thankful to have found a workout (Zumba) that makes it so easy for me to enjoy exercise.

What a liberating moment to realize such a huge change that so positively impacts my lifestyle! Though the change wasn’t over night, rather it was a gradual change over the last several or more years, I’m so glad to have found my way here. Knowing that it’s possible to maintain a healthy lifestyle with ease and enjoyment is more amazing than I can put into words.

From working out out of obligation or fear to working out for happiness and fun! It makes me smile to realize I’ve come so far! 🙂

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As you may have seen on Twitter, I’m taking a sick day today. I feel terrible and not like doing much of anything.

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Today I made oatmeal since I heard it was good for the immune system. Not to mention oatmeal is very comforting and healthful.

I made rolled oats with 1/2 water 1/2 rice milk and half a banana and topped it with coconut, pepitas and Naturally Nutty White Chocolate Cherry PB. Nommmm!

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And I’ve been having TONS of liquids! Can a sick person drink enough hot tea? I think not.

Off to rest some more.

Ta- taaaa!

Have you had a workout epiphany recently?

17 thoughts on “Workout Epiphany”

  1. Hi Diana! Yes, I’ve definitely had my own workout epiphany, which is very similar to yours. I, too, was once working out for the sole purpose of “staying skinny”. But now, I workout because it makes me feel good, it keeps me strong, and it helps me de-stress.
    Two thumbs UP for workout epiphanies! 🙂

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  2. Hope you get to feeling better really soon!
    I used to be the same way with workouts. For me now, it is about fun and also about being strong. I have been doing more weight training and I love the idea of building muscle and getting stronger.

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  3. Don’t feel guilty about not doing anything on your sick day – sick days are necessary for your health 🙂

    My recent epiphany is to change up my workouts and focus on having fun, rather than going superwoman intense. The more intense my workouts get, the more injuries I suffer.

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  4. Awh I hope you feel better soon 🙁 I really believe oatmeal makes the world go round though, so I’m sure it’ll do the trick!
    I used to be the same with exercise – all for skinnyness – but now it’s for enjoyment and stress relief and strongness. I love it! I also love zumba..I googled it today and found a class just 10miles from me! I couldn’t believe it 😀

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  5. Love this epiphany! I workout out now because of the way it energizes me – our bodies are capable of so much and I think it’s important to stay active. It used to be an obsessive chore for me…now it’s something I truly enjoy.

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  6. This is probably the first time in my life that I’ve realized exercise really can be fun and engaging. I started doing Jazzercise — another dance fitness class! — and love it, and can keep up! It was a surprise to me!

    I wish I could continue it forever, but my $ and time are going to suffer as school starts again! I hope I can keep something going!

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  7. Hope you feel better soon!

    I used to be the same way. Working out was just for the fear of not gaining back the weight lost – or praying I maintain. But now for me, it’s about health.. about living life and being healthy! And having fun doing it. I’ve found things i like to do (including Zumba!) and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it? Enjoying it!

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  8. Sorry you’re sick – a good bowl of oats can go a long way in the healing process though!
    Love that you acknowledged the change in your exercise philosophy. I went through a similar shift in perspective and it’s worth taking the time to acknowledge!

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  9. great comments here! most of the time i workout because i feel strong and just happier after, but i still fall back into the mentality of burning calories just to work off a binge or to get skinnier. it’s a long process to get rid of these thoughts :/

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  10. Gosh, I love this saying! Whoever said it should be given an award. Yes, why don’t more people exercise to be strong and not skinny! If more people had this mindset, workouts would not be loathed but rather praised! I am going to repeat this to myself every time I feel bad or guilty for skipping a workout. Thank you for sharing your own thoughts on this as well!

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  11. I had an epiphany a week or two ago when I was out doing a Couch to 5K run. I realized that when I was little, the only time I ever saw anyone exercise was to try to lose weight. I also realized that the only time I saw people eating vegetarian food, yogurt, or seltzer was to try to lose weight. For the past 20 years of my almost 21 year long life, I thought that exercise + healthy food = weight loss. I never thought about exercise + healthy food = fun, or health, or energy.

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  12. I too used to workout to “get skinny” but then I realized that I was just happier when I was working out on a regular basis. I now workout because I love it, and of course I love Zumba too 🙂 and it just makes me feel really good. When I’m teaching it gives me this incredible high that I just cannot explain. It’s an awesome feeling. Oh…and I do workout so I can enjoy that occasional Starbucks Frappucino every now and then too. 😉

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  13. I love your reflection on how your relationship with exercise has changed!

    I was never really active when I was young, but freshmen year of college discovered the power of cardio when it comes to dropping weight. However, I abused exercise and use to cancel social outings so that I could be at the gym for two hours! My priorities were completely out of whack!

    Over time my priorities changed and I learned to use exercise for more of my mental well-being than anything else. It became my primary stress relief tool and I stopped abusing it and found some forms of exercise that have turned into hobbies. I now love working out, but for very different reasons.
    : )

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