People tend to think that those with time to attend a group fitness class must have plenty of time and energy to spare, but they could not be farther from the truth.
In the above pic, we have women juggling families, navigating careers, and struggling with loss, physical ailments, and illness. How do they find the energy? They are fueling up and fighting for their lives, in the form of a de-stressing, heart-pumping workout with supportive, like-minded friends.
Are you someone who puts sweat-inducing exercise on the bottom of a never-ending to-do list? You’re not alone. There are a number of science-based reasons for this:
- Our bodies are hardwired for energy conservation. For most of human history, food was scarce, so expending energy unnecessarily was a risk. Exercise, a modern concept, goes against this ingrained survival instinct, making our brains often see it as a “cost” rather than a benefit.
- Discomfort Aversion: Exercise is often uncomfortable, and we’re naturally wired to avoid immediate discomfort for future, abstract rewards.
- We tend to value immediate gratification over long-term benefits. Health gains from exercise seem distant, while the effort is right now.
For those of you who have a habit of beginning again and again and again, here are some tips to break the cycle:
- Embrace it! Life happens. we get sick, go on vacation, work takes over. Don’t beat yourself up about it. The trick is to make the “begin again” more like a gentle re-entry.
- Start Small, But Start: Even a 10-minute session is a victory. Focus on consistency over intensity.
- Celebrate the Re-Start: Pat yourself on the back for simply showing up.
- Adjust Expectations (Especially After Injury/Illness): Be patient with your body. Listen to it, modify, and celebrate small victories. Your body is resilient, but it needs time to rebuild.
- Find Your “Why”: Waiting for the motivation to get sweaty and feeling uncomfortable is a backward way of thinking. Remind yourself why you wanna get back on your fitness journey. Only then will you be able to reignite that spark–and your life
A few powerful “whys” from our community:
“After having cancer, I want to get stronger.
I am so thankful I can DO this!”
“I went through a painful loss, and I want to bring JOY into my life.”
“I suffer from depression,
and Mojo helps keep my cortisol levels balanced.”
“I have children/grandchildren,
and I want to be able to help out and enjoy them!
“I want to be more agile to enjoy hiking,
traveling, golf, pickleball, and dancing!”
Lost your mojo? It’s possible your why is out of sync. No one can find it for you and the motivation will not simply appear. It’s not easy. If it was, EVERYONE would be fit, healthy and happy.
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