Movement: Not Just for Workouts
Is Your Exercise Class a Movement Binge?
Well, that depends…
If you think of movements (mechanical inputs) as nutrients for your body, what does your “movement diet” look like over the course of a day, a week, a month, or more?
Are you sedentary for most of your day (eight hours at the desk, four hours at the TV, more time in the car) except for a 30-60 minute workout a few times per week?
Your body is starving for movement!
Eating one large meal a day will mess with your energy levels and may cause you to develop some nutrient deficiencies. It’s also difficult to get the sheer number of calories needed to survive in one healthful, nutrient-dense meal (obviously, you could go to a restaurant and get pretty close to 2000 if you tried hard enough and believe in yourself).
The same thing is true for consuming just one large movement “meal” per day. Just like our bodies need a variety of food nutrients, our bodies also need a variety of movement nutrients in the form of mechanical inputs.
It’s similar to starting the day with a green smoothie full of protein powder, greens powder, and other health food add-ins and then just eating Nutella the rest of the day.
Exercise has become a vitamin or a supplement that tries to make up for an extreme lack of movement in our daily lives.
Checking a workout off your to-do list doesn’t satisfy your body’s need for movement. It’s easy to compartmentalize our days, relegating movement and exercise to one block of time. Ideally though, you’d consume a steady intake of movement nutrients throughout your day, with periods of higher challenge than others.
So, are you saying exercise is bad or worthless?
Some folks may jump to the conclusion that I’m saying you shouldn’t exercise or go to a workout class. That’s definitely NOT what I’m saying!
Obviously, exercise has many well-documented physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
Before COVID, I loved working out at the fitness studio down the street from my house. Obviously, I was there for the exercise and the challenge, but I was also there because it felt luxurious and indulgent to get out of my house and see other women and be a separate individual from my children. The music is great and someone is telling me what to do (so no decision fatigue or overthinking) AND I get endorphins through the roof. That’s a lot of good stuff!
The exercise class I love is definitely not bad or worthless. It’s also not an excuse to be sedentary the rest of the day.
We cannot simply fit all the mechanical inputs our bodies need to thrive into a 30 or 60 minute block of time. I don’t care how good your fitness teacher or personal trainer is—it’s just not possible!
As a result, we need to embed our favorite endorphin-giving workouts into the context of an otherwise movement-rich life.
Move Your Mind.
Moving more requires a mindset shift. Opportunities for movement surround you all the time—no gym required. Here’s my tips for upping your movement nutrients throughout the day:
5 Ways to Move Outside of Your Workout:
Add a walk.
Make it a point to find time for even a short walk each day. If you can’t fit in one 20 minute walk, try peppering your day with a few five minute walks to break up longer bouts of being still. Need to make a phone call? Step out for a walk. See if your team at work would be on board for walking meetings. Instead of meeting a friend for coffee, meet for a walk and talk.
Take the stairs.
When given the choice between an elevator, an escalator, or the stairs, opt for the stairs!
Park in the furthest parking spot.
It’s always easy to score a parking spot in the last row.
Change out your seat.
Sometimes moving more looks like being still. If you’re used to sitting in a chair, try standing at your desk. You could also sit on the floor and place your laptop on your chair. Getting out of a chair requires your body to hold it self up while also providing a range of movement nutrients to your hips, knees, and ankles.
Multitask with Movement.
I already mentioned walking meetings and walking for phone calls. I also keep a half dome in my kitchen so I can calf stretch while I wash dishes. I frequently like to side hang while brushing my teeth. Discreetly balance on one foot while waiting in line. Get creative!
What does your movement diet look like? Are you binging with an exercise class and then remaining sedentary the rest of the time? Keep moving even after your workout is over.
I love helping my clients adjust their movement mindsets because it really unlocks a whole new realm of possibilities. I’d love to help you find new ways of moving your body and your mind. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation with me to learn more about my approach!
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