5 Self-Defeating Questions You Ask Yourself When You Begin to Workout

Everyone tries to exercise at least once. We know it will make us healthy, trim our waistline and tone our body, yet for many of us the initial pain is too much to bear. We give up before we reach the place where fitness is enjoyable and fun. Self-defeating questions are ingrained in our beginner workout and if we don't face them, we will fail once again. Here are the top 5 debilitating questions we ask ourselves when we begin to work out. Included is your plan to conquer them:

Does it have to hurt so much? Whether you're learning how to run or trying to do push ups for the first time, there's always a moment when you'll ask yourself "Why does it have to hurt so much?" Unfortunately new exercisers are bound to feel uncomfortable when they begin. The key is to start slowly and choose lower impact options such as yoga, Pilates or Aqua-fit. Try to stick with the same routine for at least 4 weeks or until your body has adapted and feels comfortable with one program. This not only reduces the sensation of pain, but it allows your body to adapt to each movement giving you the elevated boost of confidence to continue on your workout journey.

Am I doing this right? When you first begin an exercise routine you can be left with the sensation that every move you make is detached from the rest of your body. You ask your foot to lift up but it seems glued to the ground, you try to move your shoulder but instead you twist your torso. It's enough to get anyone frustrated and feeling down on themselves. If you're starting to doubt your ability then it may be time to ask for help. Ask a friend or family member to watch your form and see if you're moving properly. A mirror may be your new best friend as you can watch your movements and see what you're doing. Even asking a personal trainer for a free consult to go over basic movements can get you back on track.

Is there really any difference? The numbers on the scale may not move for months even when you've stuck to your healthy meal plan and perhaps even dropped a dress size or two. You're going to feel frustrated and wonder if it's worth it to continue. We all go through plateaus or sticking points where the scale may not change, but we definitely are. Prepare yourself for this by taking a before picture. Also take a beginner questionnaire asking what your starting energy levels were and what your initial pant size was. In moments of weakness it's good to look back at where you started so you can physically see how far you've come. Remember, the scale may not be accurate. Water retention, time of day and muscle to fat ratio in your body may skew the numbers.

Why wasn't I born skinny? When a skinny girl passes you with a slice of pizza in her hand you're going to ask yourself why she was blessed with ability to enjoy life's temptations without putting on the pounds. Although weight loss may be a clear fitness goal, health needs to be number one. Just because their pants are a size zero does not make them healthy. No matter what their waistline anyone who eats unhealthy and leads a sedentary life is at risk for chronic diseases such as Type II Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Although we want to be thinner to look toned and sexy ask yourself if you would want it just as badly if you felt horrible or got sick?

Why do all fitness professionals contradict each other? You try to find the best workout information you can but you're inundated with contradictions. One professional tells you high intensity intervals are good for you while another tells you yoga is the only way to go. There is so much contradiction out there it has you asking why isn't there one straight answer? The truth is while science gives us great insight into exercise protocols and how our body works, exercise studies are based on general findings and not on our individual genetic make-up. Each individual adapts to exercise in a very unique way depending on their gene expression. In fact, every member in an entire family may react to exercise differently because environment and our health choices such as nutrition, smoking, and alcohol consumption also affect our gene expression. The best thing to do is to try as many forms of exercise as you can until you find something that makes you feel good. It may take a bit of experimenting, but it's worth it in the long run. After all, there is one thing we all agree on: movement is beneficial and it can help your quality of life.

No matter how many questions you ask yourself the important thing to remember is don't give up. Once you surpass the first few weeks of difficulty exercise will become the best stress reducing, energy enhancing, self-esteem boosting activity you will ever do in your life.

Alicia Jones is the owner of Destination Fit, a mobile Personal training company that supports and motivates all clients towards their unique exercise prescription. For more information on Alicia visit: http://www.destinationfit.ca