Magazine_Spring2020_RND5_03.06.20.indd

We all want to perform better. Although getting to that next level in our workouts is important, it is also important to remember that workout results don’t just have to be measured quantitatively – sometimes results aren’t even visible to others, and sometimes they aren’t even physical. If your primary goal is to look trim and fit, try letting go of the idea of body image as your primary motivator. It may sound counterintuitive, but the less you think about exercise being a purely physical experience with purely physical results, and more as a balance between feeling good and looking good, you will be on track to a clearer perspective. Try using this as your mantra: “Feel good, and the rest will follow." By stepping back to view the bigger picture of your life, you can sort through all of the conflicting information you were given when you started your training plan and turn it into something really productive. As a runner, my reasons for working out have changed through the years. I no longer have the hard performance goals that I had when I ran competitively, but I now have something better: a reason to run. Running is my chance to escape the confines of daily routine, and gain control when things seem out of control. I think of it as a meditative experience, as well as a de-stressor that I can depend on. I feel my best after I run and I chase that feeling every time I put on my sneakers. My workout goal is to feel relaxed, and although it isn't a specific performance goal, it is ultimately what keeps me in shape. In addition to creating my own reasons to work out, being flexible in these goals has helped me stay interested and motivated. As your life changes, allow a certain amount of flux in your workout routine. It may help keep you from completely falling off of the wagon to let yourself say, "I am over-committed this week. It's going to make next week's workouts harder if I skip them this week, but that's OK." Doing so probably isn't going to drastically affect your performance anyway; more importantly, it will help you feel good about being able to prioritize and balance your life. Set yourself up so that your workouts can be another success in your life, not a failure. Try to be realistic, not absolute. Rethink why your performance matters to you – and how it realistically fits into your busy life – and you may get closer to where you want to be in your workout routine. Above all else, do whatever keeps you feeling motivated, positive, and healthy. Abby East is a Graphic Designer for Simple Again. Nutrition Quarterly · 2020 – Volume 2 15 What We’re Reading