FITNESS FRIDAY 5/25/18 - ( 6 Ways to Feel Comfortable When Exercise is Challenging)

Hey there Everyone!...Welcome to "FITNESS FRIDAY"!

**When the going gets tough, heres how to push through your workout and come out stronger in the end!**

**Some people love the feeling of their heart rate rising and sweat dripping from their body during a workout. Others never developed that love with fitness and instead just do it to stay healthy and in shape. No matter which area you fall into exercise is going to feel hard at certain times.

**Its especially common if youre new to working out and your body is still getting acclimated to being active; youre recovering from an injury; you have a lack of mobility; or you just dont feel comfortable exercising. Its absolutely normal to feel uncomfortable when exercising. In fact, most people just starting out may feel that way. ‘Comfort is typically found in a place with no challenges; physical or mental. But without challenge, there is no change.

**But struggle and feeling pain are two very different things. If an exercise is ever causing actual pain, you should stop right away. For instance, if youre doing a lunge and feel a shooting pain in your knee, theres a problem. It could be your form or something worse, so you should stop.

**If youre just starting an exercise program, its important to have some guidance to make sure that what youre doing is physiologically safe and sound and that your form is correct.

**If you find yourself struggling through a workout, here are other ways to help you feel comfortable when exercise feels hard.

1. Breathe with purpose.

When a social situation, work dilemma, or even physical exercise causes us to feel stressed, we tend to lose control of our breath. It can become shallow and erratic and it can all go downhill from there. Focus on taking slow, controlled breaths deep into your belly and exhaling with control. This will help mellow out your central nervous system and let you get control of your mind.

2. Know youre not alone.

Some people look like they were born in the gym or walking fast, but in fact, each and every person were introduced to exercise at one point in time. Even coaches were once in the same shoes and all gym goers have been there as well. It helps to remind yourself this when youre struggling.

3. Talk to yourself.

You may think it seems silly, but forget about what others around you think and instead, do it to help yourself. Using positive self-talk can help you overcome self-doubt and move from a place of discomfort to one of strength. Give yourself a power phrase to repeat when the going gets tough. ‘Youre stronger than you think, is a great one.

4. Remember why you started.

Why did you show up for your workout? Chances are it wasnt so your health and your body could remain the same — its because you wanted to change for the better. Think about why you started when a workout starts to feel hard. The struggle and difficult exercise are what create the results and help you achieve the goals you set out to reach.

5. Adjust to make it through.

Check in with your body and see if you can make any changes to what you are doing. Sometimes just moving slower, walking backwards on hills, or even changing your position can make whatever movement you are doing easier without stopping cold turkey. Just finish the activity you have decided to undertake is the goal. Then the next time that you do it see how long you can work with the uncomfortableness before adjusting. Eventually, it wont be so difficult that you need to ease back.

6. Just do it.

Think about a time when you overcame an obstacle in the past. Or think about a time you did anything in your life for the first time. Chances are, you werent very good at it. It was only through repetition that you got better—and exercise is no different. The more you do it, the more comfortable youll get with pushing beyond your comfort zone. In order to gain confidence, you have to first do the thing youre scared of. The confidence comes after, never before.....And if you can create that kind of power while exercising, its contagious and can extend outside into your life as well.

HAVE YOU EVER INCORPORATED ONE OF THE ABOVE TO HELP YOURSELF WHEN EXERCISE SEEMS TO CHALLENGING? If so Which one?!

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HAVE YOU EVER TRIED SOMETHING "DIFFERENT" TO PUSH THROUGH A CHALLENGING EXERCISE OR ACTIVITY?! If so, What was it?!