Note: Self esteem, body image issues involved.

INTRO:

I would typically have a love-hate with working out and find it hard to either start or stay consistent. I wished that I could enjoy it as much as everyone else. I could never understand that post-workout high that people talk of and I wished I could feel it and love exercise, too.

I think that it could be because of the way I would think about the workout pre, during or post session. Also, how I managed my feelings.

THE ISSUE THAT WOULD OCCUR:

I used to try and get myself to imagine my dream body and how others would view me before a workout to try and motivate me. After a short while, this would create a feeling of lack (of the dream body and treatment).

Then during a workout, I would try and imagine the dream body when I want to give up to motivate me. This would only breed "what's the point" feelings and I would worry about failing to stay consistent because of the feeling in the moment.

Then, after a workout I would be very happy but for only a moment because I would start thinking about my dream body again and how many times of this (workout) it would take to reach it. Next thing you know, I'm in the mirror inspecting myself trying to convince myself that I feel good about myself and the workout, but my goal feels so far away that I feel sad again and the workout no longer feels worth it because I have tried and failed for so long.

A few days a go I started changing the way I think.

THE SILVER LINING:

I started only focusing on the feelings, not the thoughts.

I would play a youtube video (NOT MUSIC) while working out and redirect my thoughts to that whenever thoughts of my body or peoples' reactions to me would pop up.

The workout was much more enjoyable this way!

Post workout was where the best feeling came.

THE EXPERIENCE THAT GAVE ME HOPE:

I felt great at the end because I accomplished the workout, nothing new.

But this time I decided to stay in this happy feeling- no thoughts about it allowed. No thinking about my dream body or how hard it was or consistency. In short, no thoughts that could ruin this happy feeling.

Then that's when it hit- the post-workout high that everyone talks about just about 30 seconds later! I have never felt this happy after a workout in my life. I actually felt euphoric.

Now I'm actually looking forward to working out again because of that feeling.

CONCLUSION:

Don't sabotage your happy feelings with negative thoughts, especially if it's regarding healthy or happy activities. Thoughts create feelings which create actions.

DISCLAIMER:

I feel the need to disclaim something just in case. I'm sorry/I accept/I'll do better.