3576: Fear of Exercise: Why Is Getting Fit Scary? by Ryan with DIYActive on Fitness Mindset

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[00:01:01] This is Optimal Health Daily. Fear of Exercise. Why is getting fit scary? By Ryan, with DIYActive.com. And I'm Dr. Neal Malik, your host and narrator. Welcome back to another week of Optimal Health Daily. This is where I read to you from some of the best health and fitness blogs on the web, kind of like an ongoing audiobook, and always with a bit of my commentary at the end. And with that, let's get right to today's post as we optimize your life.

[00:01:33] Fear of Exercise. Why is getting fit scary? By Ryan, with DIYActive.com. Getting fit can be scary. Fitness is an essential part of health that people often set aside in order to focus on other aspects of their lives. Sometimes, other tasks take priority. Sometimes, people are simply not up for the task of focusing more on their fitness.

[00:01:57] Many people fear the process of getting fit. They think that eating healthy and being active are big chores with a high risk of failure. They're comfortable where they are and don't know how to adjust to the changes. However, we're here to tell you that it's not as scary as you think, and you definitely can make it work. Why it can be scary to get fit. Fitness can be a simple vision or goal that seems unattainable. You've made some attempts, but gave up quickly and fell back into your old sedentary lifestyle.

[00:02:28] There's no pain or discomfort here that's required from strenuous activity. Let's look at the common reasons people feel fear when trying to get fit. 1. Sedentary is easy. The main reasons people often fail to adapt to a more active lifestyle are that it is uncomfortable, it takes time, and it requires a lot of effort, and these things can be scary. Your couch is more comfortable than running. Exercise leaves you sore and tired.

[00:02:56] You're busy, and it will only increase your stress to take the time to work out. But, living a sedentary lifestyle, which is a way of life with minimal physical activity, can be harmful to your overall well-being. This can impact your physical, emotional, and mental health in more than one way. Lifespan Fitness reports that an inactive lifestyle increases your risk of developing some cancers and cardiovascular disease, like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and increased cholesterol levels.

[00:03:26] Depression and anxiety are also more prevalent among those who are physically inactive. NHS Choices reports that an adult should ideally participate in a minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week. The aerobic activity should be of moderate intensity and includes fast walking, cycling, or similar activities. In addition to the recommendation on aerobic activities, weekly strength training exercises are also suggested.

[00:03:56] Ideally, a person should complete strength training activities two or more days per week. According to Lifespan Fitness, however, only around 6.5% of American adults meet these minimum recommendations. They also report that at least 20% of all mortality rates among those who are older than 35 years of age account for conditions that were the result of a sedentary lifestyle. 2. Fear of not achieving results

[00:04:25] Going from inactive to being fit does not happen overnight. This is something that has proven itself true again and again. This is also a factor that's discouraging a lot of people. Yes, it's true that you may not notice the results the same day you're starting a new physical activity. But, if you keep at it, you will slowly see positive changes in your life. You will notice some brain-boosting benefits after just a few days, more energy after the first week,

[00:04:53] and at that one-month milestone, you should notice that your body is building more muscle tissue. In just around 6 months, you will have built larger muscles and you will also feel more energetic and, overall, much healthier. Your risk of having a heart attack and developing many other diseases is also significantly reduced during this time. Remember, to combine your workout routines with some of the best anti-inflammatory foods to fight possible inflammation in your muscle tissue,

[00:05:21] especially when you're getting started. 3. The fear of being the newbie Everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to fitness. Some people started at a young age and upheld their performance, and others began later in life. Others were active at a young age but stopped and have only recently restarted. Many people fear learning or relearning activities. Not knowing how or where to start can be scary,

[00:05:48] but this is something that everyone has to overcome at some point in their lives. Nerd Fitness reports that it's rather common for people, especially new exercisers or newbies, to feel like others are laughing at their performance and always judging them. However, this feeling of being ridiculed is all in our heads. It's simply fear setting in. In reality, everyone around you is busy with their own activities and they don't have time to judge you. In time, you will get more experience

[00:06:18] and this feeling will go away. 4. The fear of not succeeding Of course, we also have to mention the fear of not succeeding. This is one of the most common concerns that people have to overcome if they want to become fit and live a healthier life. When the time draws closer to start a physical training session, you may begin to question yourself. They may think they won't be able to perform the particular types of exercises that are included in their training schedule

[00:06:47] and to avoid feeling like a failure, they would rather not do anything than fail while trying. Mark's Daily Apple explains that the process of questioning yourself and then ending up not doing what you wanted to do is often referred to as self-handicapping, a process where your thoughts discourage an activity because you don't believe that you can perform that particular activity successfully. Wrap up People often tend to skip their workouts and justify it by attending more to other things

[00:07:17] like work or family concerns. These are important but are not necessarily geared toward increasing your level of fitness. Unfortunately, being too inactive is bad for the overall well-being of the human body, not only physiologically but psychologically too. If you're used to a more sedentary lifestyle, it's normal to feel nervous and maybe even afraid when you start to make changes. Just remember, you're not alone in this. By recognizing these fears, you can put things in place

[00:07:46] to overcome them. Work step-by-step to get more fit today. You may even surprise yourself by enjoying your workouts. You just listened to the post titled Fear of Exercise. Why is getting fit scary? By Ryan with DIYActive.com And I'll be right back with my commentary. Observe. Observe. The North American Dad. 50s. Great polo collection. He enters his vehicle information

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[00:08:45] To do something you never thought possible. And this space starts with Ultra Fit. Unlike traditional running shoes, Ultra Fit gives toes more room to move naturally. So every step is strong, balanced and comfortable. Whatever you're lacing up for, stay out there. With Ultra. Shop now at ultrarunning.com. That's A-L-T-R-A running dot com. Dr. Neal Malik here with my commentary. I want to go back to this idea that when it comes to getting fit,

[00:09:14] everyone has to start somewhere. That means at some point, even the most fit individuals had to learn the difference between a dumbbell and a barbell. On top of just doing the actual physical work of moving our bodies, it seems like we have to learn a completely new language to get fit too. You know, all the gym speak, like the difference between, again, a dumbbell and a barbell or between a set and a repetition and the names of all the different movements. And if you've ever

[00:09:44] tried CrossFit, it's like they have their own separate workout language. And when it comes to, again, performing the actual moves, everyone had to start at square one. Everyone's first repetition was an awkward one. And in fact, the first few times they tried a new exercise movement, it probably wasn't perfect. It took time and practice. I'm still learning new movements and I swear, it seems like I'm the slowest learner out there. It feels like it takes me longer than everyone else

[00:10:13] to master a new movement. So, if you're new to the workout scene, new to the gym, new to getting active, or basically, you're a newbie, I understand the fear and intimidation. But are those feelings of fear and intimidation really worth sacrificing your health? That's a hard no. But if you're really concerned about what people may think, that's where finding maybe the right personal trainer to introduce you to some basic movements can be really helpful. Just be sure to find one that's certified.

[00:10:43] But they can guide you through the process and help you feel less like a newbie and more like you know what you're doing in the gym. Alright, that'll do it for today. I hope you have a great rest of your day. Thank you so much for listening. And of course, I'll be back here tomorrow where your optimal life awaits. And of course, we'll be right back here. And be right back here. We'll be right back here.