Mom Writes First

94: Overcoming Workout Distractions for a Happier, Healthier Life (FYE Series)

May 29, 2023 Jen Larimore, JD
Mom Writes First
94: Overcoming Workout Distractions for a Happier, Healthier Life (FYE Series)
Show Notes Transcript

Are you constantly drawn to the latest fitness trends, unable to stick to a consistent workout routine? On this episode, part of the fittest year ever series, I share how I  stay on track and focused despite all those shiny distractions. Embrace your curious nature and learn how to exercise massive constraint while committing to a daily workout minimum.

Listen in as I reveal the thoughts that signal I might be distracting myself and share my body awareness meditation technique to ground and center myself. Find out how these strategies can be applied to your own fitness journey and make 2023 your fittest year too! 

Connect with me on Instagram at @momfirstcoaching and let's support each other on this journey towards a healthier, happier life.

Take the QUIZ! Discover how to use your mom superpower to reach your writing goals.

Ready to take back your time and add hours to the day so you can finally manage it all? Then you have to check out the FREE Time Audit Guide. You'll get coaching, worksheets, and tips on running your first time audit so that you can finally write your book without burning out. It's absolutely free, and it's my way of supporting and empowering YOU!

Instagram @momwritesfirst

Facebook

Website www.momfirstcoaching.com

Listen to more episodes by visiting Apple Podcasts or Spotify or your favorite platform.

Copyright 2024, Mom First Coaching

Speaker 1:

Hi, i'm Jen Laramore. I'm the host of Mom First. You are listening to a special episode series about how I am making 2023 my fittest year ever. This isn't your typical fitness podcast. I'm not a trainer. I don't run marathons. I'm just a regular working mom living in a sleepy midwestern town who, after five kids, 20 years of desk work and a pandemic, is ready to make 2023 my fittest year ever, mentally and physically. For me, it starts with reclaiming what it means to be fit. So I'm learning to love myself just as I am today, to nourish my body and to give it the joyful movement that it needs today so that it will serve me for decades down the road. Imagine what it would be like to reclaim the word fit for yourself too. So come with me. Let's ditch the body shame, the toxic diet culture and the yo-yo results and truly make 2023 our fittest year ever. Get those earbuds, grab your yoga mat and let's go. Hello and welcome to this week's fittest year ever episode on Mom First.

Speaker 1:

Do you start out strong with a plan to achieve your goals, stick to it for two weeks and then want to try something different? Maybe you heard about a new app or a new class at your favorite gym, maybe you get off your routine and you can't get back on it because secretly or not so secretly you get bored super easily. It is so hard to stay focused on a fitness goal when there are so many distractions out there like that shiny new piece of equipment or that program you just saw online. But truly, consistency, even in small doses, is seriously the magic sauce to achieving any of your goals, especially your fitness goals, and that's what I'm learning this year, as I set out to make it my fittest year ever. I always knew I got bored easily and I always knew that I liked variety and trying new things. But as I've been focusing on what I eat and dialing in my fitness this year, i realized that I use my desire for variety as an excuse. It gets in the way way too much. Here's what I'm learning this year when it comes to being more consistent. First, i'm learning that I don't want to beat myself up anymore for wanting to try a lot of things. I'm 100% not judging myself or beating myself up. That's so easy to do, and in the past, for sure I would do that. Not anymore, though. Now I'm learning to be more consistent and do so in a way that is kind and loving to myself.

Speaker 1:

I know that my love of variety is just a part of my curious nature. It's a reflection of the fact that I'm pretty enthusiastic and curious about pretty much everything and that coming up with a million ideas is one of my superpowers. I love that part of myself and I wouldn't change it for anything. But the downside of that curious nature of mine is that it can be overused as a way to be constantly busy, never content with my current activity and always on the lookout for the next best thing. When it's really sneaky, it even shows up as a way for me to avoid anxiousness or painful feelings.

Speaker 1:

I'm also learning this year to watch for the thoughts that suggest that I'm overusing my curiosity and heading down a path that is more restless and anxious than necessary. Some of the thoughts that tend to show up for me are this isn't fun, this isn't fulfilling, this isn't working. Something else would work better, something else would be more fun. I just need to shift to something else. I'm going to try something new. Why is this taking so long? What are other options? What if I'm missing out?

Speaker 1:

I know that if I have these kinds of thoughts just two or three weeks after trying something. That is a signal that my restlessness is trying to take over. And then, when I notice these thoughts, i'm learning to do a body awareness meditation where I focus really specifically on a particular sense. Often for me it's touch. so I rub two fingers together and I try intensely to focus on how those fingers feel when they rub against each other. These kinds of meditations are awesome because they are free, easy to do and can be done absolutely anywhere. So whenever I feel that restlessness bubbling up, i drop back into my body and ground and center myself. Now here's the third thing I'm doing I'm learning to be more consistent and less restless and distracted by committing to a minimum workout each day. For me it's 10 minutes of yoga, but I'm adding to it now with additional workouts.

Speaker 1:

And the final thing I want to share with you today about what I'm learning is that I'm learning to exercise massive constraint. So here's the thing there are a million ways to workout and about a thousand apps, programs, classes etc. To try. It is easy to get overwhelmed, and so I am very carefully and diligently exercising and maintaining constraint. I decide each month what I'm going to do and where and when?

Speaker 1:

Right now it's spring. I love to run, walk into yoga. I might lift some weights in our basement at home or jump on our mini trampoline, but beyond that, this month I'm constraining myself to those things so that I can really focus in and reach my goals. But even as I say this to you, i can hear a voice popping up inside my head but what about that class at the gym in town? I've been wanting to try that, and here's the answer. Sure, i can try that After I have done what I had planned for the day. It can be an add-on, but I'm not going to allow my brain to distract me with something new anymore in order to avoid doing the workouts that I've already committed to.

Speaker 1:

So, in sum, whenever I notice I'm not staying consistent with my workouts, here are some things that are helping me. I acknowledge my curiosity and everything good that it brings my way. I watch my thoughts for a signal that I might be trying to distract myself from something that I don't want to do. I center myself with a body awareness meditation, i commit to a minimum workout and I use massive constraint. That's what I'm doing to stay focused on my goals. What about you Do you struggle with shiny object syndrome too, especially when it comes to your fitness goals? If so, hop over to Instagram and let me know what works for you. You can find me at momfirstcoaching on Instagram. Hope to see you there. Okay, my friends, i hope you enjoyed this episode. I absolutely love making this podcast for you. If it resonates, i hope that you're going to come over and check me out over on Instagram at momfirstcoaching. I would love to hear from you there. See you again next time.

Podcasts we love