WE ALL KNOW exercise is crucial for good health and longevity and it’s super helpful for weight loss and blood sugar balance. Yet I struggle so much to maintain a regular exercise routine with the myriad of responsibilities that I have to juggle daily. Despite having all the kit that I could possibly need at home – treadmill, bike, rowing machine, yoga mat, TRX straps, weights – finding the time and motivation to exercise feels like a massive task.
I am well aware of the importance of muscle mass and how it impacts overall health, but my lack of time and low energy levels scupper my good intentions. I am heavier than usual at the moment, which makes exercise even more of a challenge. I feel an unusualmotivation to exercise can be particularly challenging for a combination of physical, psychological and social factors. Physically, excess weight can make movement more difficult and exercise more tiring and uncomfortable. Psychologically, feelings of low self-esteem, body image issues and fear of judgment or failure can creep in, which creates a mental barrier to starting and maintaining an exercise routine. Socially, the stigma and discrimination faced by overweight individuals often leads to feelings of isolation and discouragement. All these factors dampen motivation to exercise and have affected me at various stages of life. Additionally, the cycle of dieting and weight regain brings a sense of hopelessness, making it harder to believe in the potential for long-term success through exercise – as I know.
