This is one of the most common questions I hear at this time of year. I will answer it, but first let’s look into the question itself any why it might not be the best place to start.
Shouldn’t exercise be about more than burning calories?
We need to stop tying exercise so closely to calorie burning.
Exercise is important for so many reasons - improving general health, boosting mental well-being, building friendships, and simply having fun. When we see it through the lens of burning off food, we risk turning exercise into something we “have to do” or even a punishment.
Instead, exercise should be something we choose to do because it makes us feel good.
Thinking, "I ate that mince pie, so I need to work it off," can make exercise feel like penance rather than something you love. Or “I did my run, so I’ve earned that mince pie” creates a relationship where exercise becomes less about enjoyment and more about justification or a transaction.
Think what impact this has on a young child when they hear this sort of comment – that exercise is something they have to do rather than something to enjoy.
The impact of this mindset on our training
As well as screwing up our relationship with exercise, this mindset can have serious impacts on our training.
The main goal for most of the people I work with is to increase their fitness, either to get faster for a race or for general health. If this is your goal as well then thinking (however subconsciously) ‘exercise is to burn calories’ can really hold you back. Proper fuelling is critical for sessions over an hour or higher intensity, especially for women. When we under fuel, we limit what we can achieve in training and make recovery harder, increasing the risk of illness or injury.
The question shouldn’t be how to burn the mince pie but how to ensure you are fuelling your training to ensure the best training results.
Even when we understand the need for fuelling at an intellect level, ‘exercise is about burning calories’ can be so heavily ingrained that it can be really hard to actually take on enough energy. I’ve seen so many clients - especially women - struggle with this and I’ve certainly experienced it myself and have to be vigilant not to let it takeover.
Be part of breaking the cycle
So whilst the question may only meant in a light hearted manner or without any meaning behind it, each of these comments reinforces this link, perpetuating the cycle.
Instead try working towards a positive vision of why you exercise, rather than one based on burning calories. Identify how it helps you. Use this as a motivator to get out there and train.
And help to break the cycle by changing how you talk about exercise to yourself and others.
Ok, so now I've got that off my chest, do you want to know the answer to the question? Read on....
Want to know more about changing your thinking around exercise and fuelling for success?
If this resonates with you, you'll love my new membership for active women who want to get fitter and faster, as well as happier and healthier. We've got Masterclasses, coaching and Q&As about all mindset and nutrition, and much, much more!
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