The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

Exercise has many benefits and has been linked to decreased risk of many chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes as well as depression. While exercise can be a great thing to incorporate into your day-to-day life, it is very easy to turn what should be fun into another chore.

Working to find a form of movement you enjoy is important, as it should be fun. 

Finding a goal to incorporate movement (other than weight loss) is important as well. Functional goals that improve quality of life and have been proven by research are a great place to start--improved balance and improved mood are just two benefits. Not only is research showing that sustained weight loss is not achieved by ~98% of dieters, but weight fluctuations are more harmful to your long-term health than remaining in a larger body. So, using weight as your primary goal for exercise likely is not wise.

Consider your relationship with exercise and if any of these red flags apply to you. Excessive exercise is often accompanied by disordered eating habits.

Some red flags to watch for :

-Exercising to "earn food" rather than fueling your body unconditionally

-Missing out on other fun activities to exercise 

-Skipping important things like sleep and meals to exercise

-Not being able to miss a workout

-Under-fueling your body for your level of activity

-Exercise that interferes with your ability to accomplish necessary daily tasks

-Using exercise as a punishment for something you've eaten

Exercise should be fun! It should never feel like a chore. To maximize the benefits from physical activity, we need to enjoy what we are doing. Additionally, exercise can be an empowering activity that helps us build a sense of community with others. 

Looking to heal your relationship with your body, break the dieting cycle, find movement you enjoy or just improve your wellbeing? Give Chelsea a call! 

Chelsea is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at The Balanced Life LLC. Her goal is to help you improve your relationship with food and your body. Looking to heal your relationship with your body, break the dieting cycle, find movement you enjoy or just improve your wellbeing? Book an appointment with Chelsea by emailing her at Chelsea@thebalancedlifellc.com or calling 256-258-7777 x 107.