Why I’m fed up of exercise being used as punishment.
Ever noticed how exercise often gets a bad reputation? Eat too much and you're told to hit the gym. Want to drop a few pounds? Exercise is the answer. Skipped your workout? Better make up for it, with 2 sessions back-to-back. And don't get me started on the whole "you must hit your 10k steps" mantra - not because of the joy and benefits of being outdoors, but as another must-do on the endless checklist of health.
Back in my PE teaching days, nothing annoyed me more (ok somethings probably did - but that’s for another day) than hearing about cross country being dished out as punishment. "Talk too much and it's laps for you instead of basketball." Seriously? What a way to tell children that the thrill of a run, the feeling of your heart racing, the challenge of pushing through that burn in your muscles, and even the glory of finishing, mud-splattered and breathless, is somehow a bad thing. That running is something we should avoid and we only do it if we step out of line (maybe it would be more of a deterrent than prison!)
As a personal trainer, my mission is to change that script. I want my clients to be excited about their workouts, to actually look forward to them, and to find joy in movement. It won't always be a walk in the park. There'll be sweat, maybe a few aches, and days when the gym is the last place you want to be. But it's in those moments that you grow, that you find strength you didn't know you had. And yes, not every day will be a win. You might not always lift heavier or go faster, but you showed up, and that's what counts.
Remember when just taking part got you a certificate in school? Well, life's not like that. It's not about winning or losing; it's about giving it a go, being okay with not being the best sometimes, and finding value in just participating. That's a lesson worth learning, far more than any prize for just turning up. Take the intrinsic reward of exercising over the bribe of a certificate or even worse chocolate for taking part.
We've become obsessed with goals - hitting a certain weight, looking a certain way, constantly improving. And when we fall short, we're way too hard on ourselves. Overdid it on the weekend treats? The usual response is a gruelling session on the treadmill as penance. But what if we shifted that mindset? What if we saw that 30-minute run as a privilege, a chance to feel alive, to breathe in the fresh air, and to feel good about moving our body?
Let's talk about what exercise really gives us - a break from stress, a moment to care for ourselves, a way to build a healthier body that will thank us in the years to come. It's about stronger muscles, healthier bones, lower stress levels, and yes, maintaining a healthy weight. But more than that, it's about feeling good in the here and now.
What if we started to see all forms of exercise as a positive part of life? Imagine if we embraced the variety, acknowledging that while spin classes or HIIT might not be everyone's cup of tea, they're someone else's favourite part of the week. I mean, I'm not a fan of Marmite, but my sister loves it, and that's perfectly okay.
It's time we started championing exercise as a positive force in our lives. Let's welcome the challenge, accept that we won't always be the top performer, and ditch the negative connotations. Feeling sweaty, tired, or out of breath? That's just your body doing its thing, letting you live life to the fullest. And trust me, it'll pay dividends in the long run.
So, in a nutshell, my philosophy for everyone I work with, whether it's face-to-face or online, is simple: find joy in moving your body. Pick activities you love, that you're excited to show up for week after week. Enjoy getting better at them, but more importantly, appreciate the wider benefits they bring to your life, beyond compensating for that extra pack of crisps. Exercise is not a punishment; it's one of the best things you can do for yourself. Let's start treating it that way.
Dawn Luszczak - LIFT Founder
