Don't Overcome Exercise Barriers, Eliminate Them!

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Have you ever been making progress with a health habit, only to hit a wall due to injury, work, family stress, fatigue, or lost motivation?

These are often seen as barriers, but the real issue is viewing them as such. Instead, these "barriers" can guide you to address their root causes, helping you eliminate them rather than just bypass them.

Pain, for instance, is a signal from your body indicating something needs attention. Ignoring it can worsen the situation. Instead of pushing through pain to lose weight, focus on exercises that reduce pain, like walking or stretching. This approach challenges the "more is better" mindset, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Soreness is another misunderstood barrier. It's not necessary for progress it is a sign of overexertion. The "good sore" messaging is 110% based on misinformation. Exercise needs to feel good from the start, using gradual progression and movement science to eliminate soreness.

Motivation can also be hindered by misconceptions about exercise being tiring or painful. Reducing exercise intensity initially can make it more appealing.

Distracting during exercise is another barriers mindset. Exercise is a time to practice the skills of mobility, strength, and stamina. These are skills that need your mindful attention rather than multitasking.

External motivators like hiring a coach or using apps can be costly and motivation science says they are not likely to be sustainable. Internal motivation, driven by meaning and feeling, is more lasting. Understanding and addressing what's truly important to you can enhance motivation. Using movement science to ensure moving your body feels good from day one builds intrinsic motivation.

Ultimately, what we call barriers are guides to exercising for whole person health and wellbeing in a sustainable way. By addressing the root cause of barriers rather than trying to overcome or avoid them, you can make faster and more lasting progress.

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My upcoming book will guide you through using these principles to overcome barriers for any health habit. Subscribe to my email list to get updates. My Start Well program guides you through using this approach with exercise habits specifically. Feel free to reach out with questions or for further discussion.