Intuitive Exercise Leads To A Healthy Weight

JUST FOR TODAY:  Be intuitive as you exercise, and focus on how your body feels rather than how many calories you are burning.  Intuitive exercise is the easy way to a healthy weight!

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.  But if your purpose for doing a workout is to burn calories, then your exercise can become compulsive or it may feel like such an obligation that you'll rebel against doing it.  To achieve your weight loss or eating disorder recovery goals, be intuitive as you exercise.  Pay attention to how your body feels as you move.  Notice your legs, arms and torso.  Be aware of how your muscles feel as they contract and relax.  Try increasing and decreasing your pace, changing your stride length, or altering other motions involved in your type of exercise.  Observe when your body feels its best, and stay with that momentum for a while.  Instead of keeping track of how many minutes you've been exercising, or what distance you have travelled, try to focus on the signals that your body is giving you about when it's time to conclude your workout.  Some days you may exercise for a longer duration or at a faster pace, while other days you may need to take it easy.  Trust your intuition to guide you to a way of exercising that is truly healthy for you.

©2010 by "Dr. Dorie" McCubbrey, M.S.Ed.,Ph.D. – Eating Disorder & Obesity Treatment Specialist – Denver, Colorado