Anxiety and exercise

Anxiety can be a paralysing and crippling emotion, stopping us in our tracks and getting in the way of all aspects of our lives. Anxiety can sap our motivation at any time and can be a huge barrier to success. How do we motivate ourselves to do something, when that something is the last something we want to do?

Baby steps

Getting your fitness routines started can be a struggle at the best of times. Whether you are dealing with mental health issues, family commitments, work scheduling or you just feel too tired, the best way to get yourself moving is little and often.

Starting with a short walk, is a great way to go. Get yourself outdoors, ideally with a friend or a dog for company, and give yourself some headspace whilst gently filling the lungs and raising the heart-rate. Don’t let the weather be a barrier, but try to take away any negative associations, and push yourself to do something, no matter how small or short. You will feel better for it!

Once you feel the cobwebs have been dusted away, consider the next steps, but seek assistance from someone who can and will help you.

Adele opens up

You may have noticed that Adele (the singer) recently released a new single, and has appeared in a TV interview with Oprah, soon to be broadcast in the UK, in which, amongst other things, she discusses her weight loss and the process that led to it.

Unhappy in her marriage and depressed going through a divorce, she started training with a PT, and identified him as someone she appreciated time with, because he was able to take her headspace away from the anxiety while she worked out. Over a period of time she was able to clearly connect the dots, training regularly, including twice per day if she felt her anxiety peaking, she used workouts more and more, and as a result felt healthier, improved her fitness, lost weight, and regained her self esteem.

Personal training

Whilst parallels with the celebrity world are often unhelpful, Adele is a very down to earth person, and one in whom we can identify common traits. She has spoken candidly about her struggles, often through her lyrics, and she has proved that overcoming obstacles and anxiety is achievable, especially when you reach out and use someone else to help motivate, guide and support you along the way.

From a fitness perspective, supporting your health objectives and in our experience, the best results are most likely achieved with a focused plan and support from a personal trainer.

Establishing a rapport with a trainer is essential to success, so don’t be afraid to try a few before you commit. Make sure your trainer understands your needs, enjoys your company (and vice-versa) and cares about your journey. Exercise is an exercise in distraction as much as fulfilling your fitness and health needs directly, so make sure you feel at ease and can have fun during your workouts. Boredom is a buzz-kill.

We all struggle

You are not alone - we all struggle! How we react to our struggles defines us but we all suffer from anxiety, depression and a lack of motivation either regularly or occasionally. Admitting this is your first base, and will be a catalyst to success.

I have been active my whole life, and it’s easy to assume that I have never had difficulties maintaining workouts but at times in my life I have struggled with motivation, anxiety or depression, and exercise has been my salvation.

After my athletics career had come to a jarring halt, following my fourth surgery, I realised there would be no going back to what I loved, and after three months drifted by, I looked at myself and didn’t like what I saw. I was able to quickly snap myself out of my stupor and got back on the road to a regular fitness routine! During another period after a family bereavement, and several other pivotal things in my life had gone awry, I felt at a very low ebb, suffering from intermittent anxiety and depression. The last thing I wanted to do was exercise, but I forced myself to do it and in doing so, I was able to lift myself up. Training with and around others was also an escape and the social interactions helped me enormously. Activity has always been my go-to when I’m struggling and it has never let me down!

Exercise is medicine

We will always say that activity fulfils for the mind first and the body afterwards. When your mind is focused, uplifted and positive your confidence will fly. If you can combine a strong mind with a healthy body and the self-assurance that can inspire, these elements will allow you to fulfil the objectives you set out to. That’s as close to a guarantee we can give!

The author is a co-founder of FitFor, is a former UK Decathlon champion, and co-owns a gym (www.fitforgym.co.uk).