This conversation made me think about a few other events or milestones in my life that have impacted my workouts and my overall approach to health and fitness. Some are more serious than others but I thought it might make for an interesting blog post! I’d love to hear a little bit about the things in your life that have helped shape your attitude toward fitness in the comments section of this post!
Below you will find six things that impacted the way I approach fitness in chronological order…
Six Things That Changed The Way I Approach Fitness
- Training for My First Long Distance Race
I have never been a naturally gifted runner. In fact, I’d also say I’ve never been a naturally gifted athlete and always seemed to be pretty darn average in any sport I attempted as a child or high school student. This didn’t stop me from enjoying athletics and fitness but when it came to tackling big athletic endeavors, I definitely had a mental road block up and assumed I couldn’t achieve what others could, especially when it came to running long distances.
After college, I found myself looking for a new goal. I needed something to challenge myself outside of work and wondered if I could work my way up to running a half marathon. I wasn’t sure I could do it, but I read a bunch of reviews from “newbie” runners like myself who praised Hal Higdon’s Novice Half Marathon Training Plan.
As I started training, I learned a lot about myself. Training for my first long distance race taught me that so much of my personal barriers are mental. This is something that stuck with me and is something I continually think about to this day. When I want to give up during a particularly challenging workout, I remember that my head typically wants to give up before my body does and I try to dig a little deeper. As cheesy as it may sound, training for a half marathon taught me about mental toughness, the importance of creating and achieving goals and believing in myself.
(If you are considering training for your first half marathon, you may be interested in this post: So You Want to Run a Half Marathon?)
- BodyPump
I discovered BodyPump shortly after college and credit this group exercise class with helping me learn to love strength training. Throughout college, I did some strength training but was definitely more of a cardio queen. My workouts were typically a combination of spinning classes, steady state training on the elliptical, running and other group fitness cardio-based classes.
It wasn’t until my boss at the Orlando Museum of Art encouraged me to try BodyPump with her after work one day in 2007 that I first took the class. I instantly fell in love with the fast-paced format and the way the class delivered a challenging total body workout in just under an hour. BodyPump quickly became part of my workout routine for years!
It’s still a class I absolutely love and shaped the way I approach fitness moving forward. BodyPump helped me fall in love with strength training and prioritize strength training in my personal fitness routine for years to come.
(If you are interested in trying BodyPump and want to know more about the workout, you may want to check out this post: What Is BodyPump?)
- My Mother’s Breast Cancer Diagnosis
My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2008. Her diagnosis shocked and scared our family but throughout her treatment, she never lost her optimistic attitude and the strength I always saw in my mother only intensified. I feel so beyond grateful that her surgery, chemotherapy, radiation (and then more chemotherapy) proved successful.
My mom’s diagnosis dramatically shifted the way I think about health, fitness and overall wellness. As I watched my mom fight cancer, I couldn’t help but feel grateful she went into her diagnosis feeling healthy and strong. She prioritized fitness (she’s been an avid Jazzerciser for years) and healthy eating and I believe this made a big difference in how she was able to handle the aggressive treatment that came her way following her diagnosis.
Prior to my mom’s breast cancer diagnosis, I will be completely honest and say I exercised largely for vanity reasons. I knew exercise was good for my health, but my main motivation for hitting the gym was definitely to look good and avoid post-college weight gain. After my mom’s diagnosis, a switch flipped and I began to view exercise and healthy eating as essential for my own wellbeing. I began to value a strong body and knew that eating Lean Cuisines for dinner wasn’t the way I wanted to fuel my body. I wanted to be healthy and began to view exercise and food in a new light.
- Pregnancy
Becoming pregnant completely shifted the way I approached my personal health and fitness because everything I was doing was no longer just about me. I was sharing my body with a baby and I wanted to do everything in my power to keep him safe and healthy in my belly.
Though I’ve always tried my best to listen to my body, pregnancy made me acutely aware of my body, my physical limitations and my health and safety because everything I did affected another person.
During my third trimester, I was hit with some seriously debilitating sacroiliac joint pain that left me unable to walk without experiencing stabbing pain. This experience taught me to slow down. Sometimes our fitness goals and exercise have to take a backseat to rest and recovery.
It’s so incredibly important to honor your body and not push through the pain. Pregnancy taught me to take a step back, rest and listen to my body. Exercise will always be there and I jumped back into a fitness routine when my body felt better and I knew it was safe. My time away from rigorous workouts actually left me feeling more grateful than ever before for a healthy body and more motivated to hit the gym once I was better.
- Becoming a Mother
Becoming a mother shifted the way I think about my body. When I was pregnant, I shared my body with Chase and it was incredible for me to see what my body was capable of doing, both during pregnancy, birth and postpartum recovery. Pregnancy and motherhood helped reinforce what I already knew: My body is so much more than the way it looks aesthetically.
I now feel a sense of clarity and purpose related to my health and wellness that I didn’t before. I’ve prioritized (mostly) healthy living for years, but now I feel a strong sense of motivation to remain active and healthy because I want to be around for a long time to watch Chase grow up. I want to be an involved mother both mentally and physically and I already can tell Chase will keep me running around like crazy! I want to be able to keep up with my active little man and know that taking care of myself so I can be a better mother is so important. I want to be healthy and strong both for myself and for my family.
Becoming a mother also taught me that quality trumps quantity when it comes to the time I spend at the gym. I used to be able to spend an hour or more at the gym and now the vast majority of my workouts are 25 to 45 minutes. I push myself and make what little time I dedicate toward my (almost) daily workouts really count! I remember a time when I felt like going for a run wasn’t worth it if I couldn’t at least squeeze in five miles. What was I thinking!? Short workouts can be very effective and HIIT training is legit!
Burn Boot Camp is, without a doubt, my favorite workout I’ve ever done in my entire life and so much of the reason why I love it so much is the supportive, motivational and encouraging environment.
The trainers constantly emphasize strength over size (LOVE this), focusing on your own journey (aka not comparing yourself to others), making goals for yourself and growing stronger every day.
BBC has changed my approach to fitness because I find myself pushing myself harder in the class because I’m surrounded by such encouraging women and trainers. I’m selecting heavier weights than ever before, doing more push ups on my toes than I thought possible and feeling stronger.
I am so excited when my friends accomplish big goals during a workout and it feels amazing when they notice me achieve a fitness-related milestone (knocking out a series of doubleunders and push ups come to mind!) in class and give me a high five during the workout. The supportive environment is contagious and surrounding myself with women who prioritize healthy living and both physical and mental strength has been incredible.
(If Burn Boot Camp is on your radar and you’re considering trying it out, this blog post may interest you: What To Expect at Burn Boot Camp)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing in your life that impacted the way you approach fitness?
Kara says
Great blog topic, Julie! I have a very active 27th month old and she definitely keeps our family moving all the time. I agree with you that my shift towards health and fitness has changed since having my daughter. I still cry when I am putting her down for the night as I think how life is so short and how much I want to be there for her when she is an adult, like my mom is for me right now. BTW- love your blog! 🙂
Kaitlyn @ Powered by Sass says
Love this. I used to be a cardio queen myself, and I’d feel guilty if I missed a daily workout or ate a “bad” food. I’m 25 now, and my approach to a healthy lifestyle is completely different. I work out to make me feel good and because I know it’s good for me. I also workout in ways that I enjoy! Sometimes I want to run for three miles, other times I want to bike for twenty, and sometimes a fifteen minute yoga DVD is all I want and need. It’s all about balance. Yay for healthy, but not overly consuming, lifestyles!
-> http://www.poweredbysass.com
Christie says
I love this post and feel incredibly motivated by it! Something that has impacted my fitness, but in a negative way, was the passing of my grandfather, and I’m not quite sure why… I was really into fitness prior to his passing, and once he left us, I simply didn’t have the desire to pursue it anymore. And I haven’t found a way to get back over that hump. This post gave me a little motivation tho! Thanks!
kaitlin says
I very much enjoyed this post! I too was a cardio queen in college and post college and mainly worked out to burn as many calories as possible however once I discovered weight training my whole perspective on fitness changed and I saw positive changes in my body that made me see that while cardio is good weights can do that much more for you. Another fitness class that helped me see how strong I was was pure barre/bar method, it is incredible what you can do with your own body weight and how you truly can sculpt lean and tone muscles with such small movements and little to know weights. Our bodies are truly incredible and it is something I have definitely abused/taken for granted in the past.
Loran Ross says
This was such a great blog post! Thank you for sharing, and for giving me some motivation as well. I am a sophomore in college and am just trying to get a handle on a healthy lifestyle. Your blog overall, and this post specifically, has helped me so much!
Haley says
I love this post! I am a recent college graduate and often find that I fall into the trap of comparison and working out for vanity’s sake. This gave me validation of the mind set I have been working on and will continue to make a priority in my life. Thanks for being amazing Julie!!
Brynn says
Becoming a mother and pregnancy or two big game changers for me as well. Also, starting the tone it up workout program that includes weights. Lifting was new to me and it has change my workouts, fitness and body.
Jackie says
The thing that really made a difference in my mindset was when I finally made the connection between the positive impact my workouts had on my mood. I work long hours and travel for work, so it is very easy to put health and fitness on the back burner (something I see too many coworkers do). Outside of the vanity reasons, I really became dedicated to my workouts and became ok passing up on an evening social event if I knew it would impact my morning workout once I realized that working out enhanced my overall mood for the day. I have better mental clarity, a more optimistic outlook, and to be honest I can deal with difficult clients and coworkers a lot better on a day when I’ve exercised 😉
Julie says
YES!!!!! Exercise truly does make me happier and gives me clarity throughout the day as well.
Katie says
What a great topic!
I was just thinking about this on my way to work this morning. In my 20s, I was focused more on exercise for vanity reasons and was always competing with myself and other people. I was in great shape, but I was never satisfied with how I looked. I was lifting heavy weights and doing cardio and my body and mind just didn’t feel right.
Now, at 33, I’m more into doing exercises that I can do when I’m 80 and that make not only my body feel good, but my mind as well. I also suffer from depression and anxiety and find that power walking and yoga are the two things that help me the most. I do those two activities daily and have never felt better!
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
Great post! I think for me it was realizing that it’s a lifestyle and not one specific way of eating, thinking, or exercising. Being healthy is mental, physical, and emotional!
Meagan @ My Life as Mrs says
I’m reading through your list and I’m hit with an emotional stab finding out your mom had breast cancer. I found your blog a few months ago and I guess I’d never seen anything about it. Anyways, trying to lose weight and get healthy has multiple motivations for me. One because I’d like to be in the best health I can be in when it comes time to have kids so that they have the best chance, and secondly because I want to be around as long as possible. I lost my mom to breast cancer when I was 19 almost 5 years ago. It happened so quick I didn’t even get a chance to process what had happened. It’s been a long road to where I’m at now and an even longer road to get to where I’m going but I know it’s worth the journey.
Jenna Unerstall says
Finding your blog is what got me out of years of failed attempts to form a healthy lifestyle. I started reading back in 2011 and have been an avid reader since. You showed me that you don’t have to be on a crazy diet in order to be fit and to really push myself to see results. Once I lost that initial unhealthy weight, it became all about keeping up the lifestyle for health purposes… now I love a good sweat! Thank you so much for your inspiration!
Julie says
I cannot tell you how much your comment means to me — it’s comments like this that truly motivate me to continue blogging. Thank you! And thank you for reading for so long, Jenna!
Pra says
I want to second this! Reading PBF really helped me develop a balanced attitude towards food and fitness. Seeing Julie be super fit and into exercise – but also totally able to indulge in ice cream and other treats without obsessing about it – made me think that maybe it was possible to eat what I wanted without somehow “negating” my workouts. Also, thanks to this blog, I realized that building daily exercise into my morning routine (rather than leaving things up to chance after I got home from work and was either too tired to hit the gym or else tempted to skip my workout for a happy hour invitation) made me 1,000 times more consistent about it!
Beth says
Love this post, and I have totally had my own fitness journey too, sounding similar to yours. I know you still work out a lot, but will you get back into personal training other people as a job?
Julia@yogawinehappiness.com says
I used to freak out if I missed a workout, and pushed myself hard between running and hot yoga sculpt classes. Now that I’m a mom, I miss pushing myself but also like my new mindset. I try to stay active and healthy but know that I don’t have the luxury of hour long yoga classes anymore so i do what I can and am happy with whatever workout I accomplish, even if it’s just a long walk! My priorities are different and I have a much more laid back attitude!
Ash Diamond says
Great post Julie! I’ve really enjoyed reading this post as well as other posts similar to this one that Tina has written. I feel like so many of us have evolved over the years and I love the way our fitness now focuses on strength vs a number on the scale.
Caitlin says
Wow! What a great, motivational post! I recently lost a significant amount of weight (nursing my 17 month old for 15 months defintely helped) and my main motivation is to be healthy and energetic for my very active son and to be a good role model for him. I used to think long cardio workouts were all that mattered but with limited time I started attending spinning and trx classes and my strength and energy has dramatically increased. Your blog inspires me every day- thank you!
Julie says
Thank you so much for reading, Caitlin! <3
gena @ sober life victory says
I can totally relate to all of these. Running my first half marathon, my mother also had breast cancer and becoming a mother really changed how I viewed fitness! Prior to motherhood I was more goal oriented in my fitness. Get to this weight, do this or run this distance. Now I focus on consistency. I just want to show my kids it’s important to move 3-4 days a week. Thanks for sharing.
Julie says
I love this and totally agree! I think consistency is the most important piece of the fitness puzzle.
Shannon says
I love this post! I’m so happy the culture on fitness has begun to change–I often got criticized in the past when I worked out because it was seen as an avenue to weight loss, & since I was skinny, many saw it as just sheer craziness. I got a lot of “if you work out, you’ll waste away into nothing!!” It seems to be shifting a bit though, thankfully. While fitness helps in the ‘looking good’ department, I’m most obsessed with how it makes me feel!! I love the energy boost, I love knowing that my body is capable of running 13 miles, & it helps with stress & anxiety. It is so important to take care of our bodies, for ourselves, & for our families!
Ashlee says
Joining my Crossfit community really made me recognize that fitness is so much more than how you look!! People of all shapes ages and sizes would step up to a barbell or WOD and surprise you with what they were capable of! Random side note… It’s very common for girls to strip off their shirts during a tough WOD and finish the workout in a sports bra alone.. Although for most that means nothing.. For me it represents how confident they are and how little they focus or care about a little extra tummy jiggle!!
Ali Hotmar says
I love this topic!!
I’ve lately been doing much more exercising in general and work out classes.
At my workplace, they have classes and I’ve done “train dirty” and “dirty thirty.” Both are quick but tough classes that push you but let you do what you can handle. The instructor gives you the move but also gives you alternatives. It’s awesome.
I have an extremely active 21 month old daughter who keeps me on my toes and a step-daughter who is 8. I also have a 35 year old husband who tends to keep me on my toes too! Haha. They are my reason to stay fit and healthy. I also stay fit for myself. I have a somewhat strong family history of cancer and heart disease and don’t want to fall into that for my family’s sake.
I love your posts! A coworker and I are doing one of your workouts today during our lunch break!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
These are great points! I used to dread going to the gym and just did it because I had too. Finding things that challenge me and I can see progress in like running, lifting weights, and plyometrics now make me excited to get my workout in!
Diana Fitts says
I love BodyPump! As a long distance runner, I sometimes feel that my upper body is wek. Oh man, BodyPump changed that. While I don’t have big muscles, I can definitiely show off some little biceps and I’m much stronger than I was before.
Diana
betterthanalive.com
Taylor says
As someone who just bought a house and is living alone for the first time I noticed that even though I live in a VERY safe city it can still be a little unsettling for me at night. I hadn’t worked out in a month due to moving into the house but once I got back to it I noticed that I didn’t worry at night and seemed more relaxed and ready for bed (even on my rest days).
Kelsey says
Reading your posts are always inspirational and insightful! I too use to be a cardio queen and am now in love with strength training and its many benefits. Keep chuggin along for the little one! I’m sure he will grow up to be just as active as his parents 🙂
Madeleine says
Loved this post! I have been exercising regularly for years, but since having kids an active lifestyle has become especially important. I’m a better wife, mom, friend, and general human being when I’m exercising regularly. Also, I love your point about quality over quantity. With a barely two year old and a 4 month old, my exercise motto these days is “something is better than nothing”. Also, thank YOU for playing a part in my exercise regimen. I reference your blog all the time for motivation and workouts 🙂
Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth says
This is such an interesting topic – and one that I picture myself talking with my mom about this afternoon while she’s still in town. (Hooray!)
I have seen my own preferences and outlook on fitness shift across the years, but I never really attributed it to specific events. But I would say that moving out to Denver was a big one. I now look at fitness as the way I enjoy my world, rather than as something I need to do for vanity reasons. And it’s made fitness a LOT more fun over the years.
I’ll definitely be thinking about this post for a while now, too. : )
Thanks for sharing!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
Michelle Blizzard says
I’d have to say injuries have most heavily impacted my approach to fitness. I realized that I’d been taking my body for granted, and the inability to move gets old soooo fast!
I’m so sad there is no Burn Boot Camp north of the border in Canada! I feel like the BBC format would suit my personality with its ever changing group atmosphere!
Though, I do wonder how you feel about yoga? Have you tried different classes? How have you liked them?
Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne @ My Life is a Mix says
It’s hard to pick just one because like you, I have several. Still, I think the one thing that really gave my workouts a purpose was when my brother was critically ill and after he passed away. He went from being healthy(in the sense of having no disease) to dying in a short amount of time. I didn’t pick up exercise so much as an opportunity to become healthier myself(that came after kids) but more for my ability to release some emotions. It allowed me to mourn in a way I couldn’t outside of pushing myself mentally and physically. Still to this day, the number one reason I exercise is for emotional and mental strength and clarity. I think everyone around me thanks me for it, lol!
Katie @ Live Half Full says
My approach to fitness has changed so much over the years. After growing up as a competitive figure skater through college and then marathon runner after college, I had neck surgery in 2013 and it really taught me to slow down. Then I got pregnant and it totally changed how I approach fitness. As a new mom these days my goal is to stay active to keep my stress levels low, which is so different than my old hardcore approach. It’s more of a lifestyle these days and I love it.
Sarah @ BucketListTummy says
Such a great post! While I haven’t been through the pregnancy/motherhood part yet, I can totally relate to the mental barriers through training and achieving goals. I’m training for my first full and I used to be so psyched out about a 3 hour run on my own, but now I can mentally handle it and I look forward to the peace and quiet!
Rachel says
Strength training! Once I learned that and got strong, I realized just how good I can feel. Time management at the gym also since having a kid. Now I have a toddler and am in nursing school and every workout I make intense, but under an hour!
haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine says
I loooove this! Going to try looking into BBC!! thanks for sharing!!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says
This post sooo strikes a chord with me. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness really changed my fitness outlook. In my early teens, I was honestly a skinny couch potato, and my diagnosis motivated me to start taking care of myself. I can’t cure my illness, but I can be as healthy as possible with it. I feel grateful every day that I can exercise and view working out as the best medicine. In the last week, getting injured has made me realize that I need to slow down a bit, rest, and truly nourish my body. If I want it to keep allowing me to do what I want to do, then right now, I need to give it a little extra TLC.
Taren says
Training for my first long distance race helped me overcome an eating disorder because I knew that while training I had to fuel my body right and with good foods. I’ve now done 3 half marathons and 1 marathon and am at my healthiest physically and mentally 🙂
Steph says
For me, learning of my scoliosis and back issues shaped my fitness routine. A few years ago my chiropractor told me I should stop running/doing other high-impact activities as it could irritate my back. While I was seriously bummed, I learned to love other activities such as spin and – my favorite – tabata workouts. I now belong to a gym that has a similar outlook as your BBC studio and I love it!!
Also doing a round of the Whole 30 changed my outlook on food. I’d never follow that diet on a regular basis because for me it’s too restrictive, but it definitely helped me eat more whole foods on the reg with less carbs and dairy.
Katy says
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for writing this post, Julie! I sustained a fairly serious injury just a few days ago and am already struggling with day to day life without fitness or much movement at all. As my friends and family say, I am like a hummingbird always in flight. Fitness, athletics, and the outdoors are huge parts of my life: my hobby, therapy, challenge, and spiritual solace. I know this won’t be easy, but please know that your honesty made my day and I appreciate it more than I can express. Thank you and God bless you and your family! 🙂
Julie says
Oh Katy, I’m so sorry you’re in the middle of recovering from a serious injury! I know that can be so frustrating, especially when you’re such an active person. I wish you the very best and hope you heal FAST! <3
Bethany says
Being a mom has totally changed the way I look at my body. I am amazed that this body grew a beautiful, healthy baby boy and that it continues to provide him all the nutrition he needs to grow strong. Being healthy is so much more than looking a certain way…..it’s a lifestyle for our family.
Leslie says
Great post! I’d say 2 things, in order of how they occurred. First half marathon training. I completely agree that it taught me mental strength and that my body and self are capable of much more than I ever thought. Second, becoming a mom this year. Changed the way I looked at my body and weight. Now I’m focused on strengthening my body, physically, emotionally and mentally and couldn’t care less about the number on the scale.
Kristen says
Interesting post! I probably have 2 first when I quit smoking I used exercise to replace it, I didn’t workout before that. Then when I got divorced I got really into running and then weight lifting and still can’t stop.
Natalie says
I’m with you on strength over size and focusing on your own journey, making goals for yourself and growing stronger every day.
I’m not sure what impacted my approach to fitness. At first it was vanity like you (flat tummy please!) and over the years it shifted to what my body can do. A lot of it is mental like you say. I’m running my first 1/2 marathon next month but I would have to make it an obstacle course, the Spartan Beast! I can’t imagine a life without fitness in it now!
Cait says
Julie,
I love this post! I’m wondering if you’d do a similar one on your approach to nutrition/eating/weight management? You seem like you have very flexible and well-rounded approach to food, and I love that you seem to mix in “healthy” foods and “treats” on the regular. However, I know sometimes what’s going on in our heads is different than what we’re putting out into the world (at least for me). I’d love to know what are your thoughts on all of that! Do you have a food philosophy? Has this changed over time?
Thanks!!
Rebecca Wright says
For me once I got into fitness, it was honestly driven from a very broken mind, I was suffering from eating disorders and mainly cared for a stress release and the lowest weight possible. What impacted and changed my fitness routine was God really spoke to me through this one verse:
1corinthains 3:16,23
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?…And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s
It hit me…I am God’s temple, His handcrafted artwork, Christ lives and resides within me and everything I do affects Him…not showing respect for myself meant I wasn’t respecting Him either. It was a profound revelation for me.
Then once I did my first obstacle course race (my brother-in-law signed my sister and me up for with him) really confirmed to me what my body was capable of if I treated it right. While I had done running races I’d never worked at achieving anything like that before. It fueled me to become healthy and strong and start respecting myself and what God had created because it was far more powerful then I ever realized.
Angie says
DEFINITELY being a Mom is what changed how I view fitness. I was active before but really needed to BE active having two active boys. I needed my boys to know that LADIES can be strong and active just like the guys!! It keeps me motivated and hopefully they will appreciate that their Mom is strong and can keep up with them (sometime surpass them!! )
Holly @ Healthy Living Holly says
Thank you for sharing this post, Julie! I can relate to a lot of these points. One thing that changed my outlook on fitness was after I competed in my first ever bikini competition. This world is completely different than anything I am used to. The experience was both mentally and physically challenging, and it was hard for me to watch my body get back into balance post-competition. During this time I did a lot of reflecting on what is important to me when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, and competing was a fun moment in time, but it is not my lifestyle and it should not be a lifestyle as it pushes your body to extreme limits. I am now working out for my health (and I suppose some vanity reasons, but in a few years when we start trying to have children, vanity isn’t priority) and my future.
Julie says
Very interesting post! I’ve had a lot of changes to my exercise (& eating) habits over the years & could list a bunch of different factors that have impacted those changes, but the most recent (& one of the biggest) was when I took up running a few years ago. Like your mom, I used to Jazzercise for years (high impact) & have always been a big walker (& very fast!), but I couldn’t run to the end of my driveway & just always thought I “couldn’t” do it. Well, I started dating someone who likes to run & thought it would be cool if I could run w/ him so I did the Couch to 5k program. You are SO right about those mental barriers! Running is as much mental as it is physical, in my opinion. We’ve been together for 3 yrs now & have run together a handful of times & even done a couple 5K’s together, but I quickly discovered running is more of an “individual” hobby for me. I prefer to run at my own pace (he’s faster, & I have no desire to do speed work) w/ my music & just do it for myself, which is funny given my reason for starting. He prefers to run on the treadmill now, & I hate the treadmill. He doesn’t run that often, & I’ve definitely become the “runner” in the family. 😀
Bethany says
This is such an awesome post Julie! It is amazing how life changes your approach to fitness over time.
I started running/ eating healthy to lose a few pounds and tone up, but after a couple years health and fitness became an obsession and I struggled with addiction to exercise/ restrictive eating. In turn, that spurred me on toward recovery and really finding health and balance.
Now, after giving birth to my first, fitness and health is not only about me, but about setting a good example for him.
Thanks for sharing!
Katie M says
Learning to run for fun! It was my sport’s punishment 🙂
Katherine @ Katherine Lynn Fitness says
Julie-thanks so much for your honesty and reflection. I love your approach to fitness and hope to work with you at some point in the future 🙂
tara says
This post is so useful to me during this time in my life – thank you! I really appreciate your honesty, especially surrounding exercise for vanity.
I recently noticed that I am obsessively exercising for the calorie burn and then eating back the calories afterward, anyway. It would be great if you could elaborate in another post how you balance your healthy eating and exercise with wanting to both look and feel good.
I struggle to find that balance and would love to hear your perspective 🙂
tara says
To elaborate, I just love how you exude such a healthy body image and I would love to hear more!