Motivation for
Menopause Fitness

Very often we are told that we need to focus on the end goal to keep committed to our new healthy habits. That’s true, of course, but when we wake up on a wintry morning the end goal doesn’t seem as appealing as staying under our duvet cover!!

But if you enjoy having a coffee as you walk on the seafront (as I do) or having that chat with your fellow exercise class members or even seeing your dog playing with other dogs in the park…then the end goal isn’t the only reason to get out of the house, but the enjoyment of that activity: walking, the social aspect of the exercise class, the landscape, etc.

The more you find (or purposefully add) enjoyable ‘mini-rewards’ in the activity, the more you’ll carve out the time (from fitness activities, including family members/work colleagues asking for your attention!) to engage in that activity.

Consistency is key to menopause weight loss

A friend once told me: “It’s not about losing things we love in order to get fit, it’s about making space to do more of the healthy activities we love!”. As a consequence of making more time for the healthy activities we enjoy, other unhealthier activities will occupy less time in our day. That’s how we will get to that end goal: Consistency over time, and we can only be consistent if we enjoy what we are doing, even if at the beginning we enjoy the takeaway coffee more than the actual walk!!! The enjoyable association will make walking a greater part of our lives. Eventually, you might get to the point where the coffee feels ‘incomplete’ without the walk!!!

This principle also applies to food by the way. The more we eat the more healthy foods our body needs, and the less space we’ll have for the other foods that should only be a small percentage of our total food intake. Once I started enjoying (barista light) oat milk and I started enjoying the fact that I could foam it up for my flat white, my cow’s milk consumption went down to almost nothing. That’s just one of the many easy and enjoyable changes that I have made to my life in order to enjoy things that are better for me.

Add treats and incentives to create healthy habits

Try adding enjoyable treats to your new healthy habits. For walking, buy a pedometer (I currently use a very simple wristband that counts my steps, it was just under £20 from an online retailer). See how addictive it is to see that number go up even when you go to the shops or as you go up and down in your office building, home, etc. My wristband matches my outfits so it’s also something that I find pleasing to the eye. I try to book meetings with my friends and if we are watching our budget, instead of buying a coffee we might just bring our flasks with a hot beverage and exercise as we catch up. You can also start doing that with the people that you’ll start meeting as you embark on this journey towards a healthier, happier menopause with Menopause Livia.

Coming up next…

In another blog, I’ll tell you more about tips to make everything you do more fun and enjoyable for yourself and for those that join you. It has to do with managing your relationships within your networks (family, friends and work colleagues) so they support your efforts instead of undermining them.

Warmly,

Lizbeth Navas – Aleman

Ambassador for Menopause Livia

As an Ambassador, Lizbeth shares her experiences of the Resista method, food plans and lifestyle adaptations from a personal perspective. She offers non-professional big-sisterly support and encouragement in a non-fitness-professional capacity.