Motivations for exercise

I'm not into exercise for the sole purpose of body sculpting to fit a certain shape. That is as unnatural as sitting behind computer screens 8 hours at a time. It also feeds pride and arrogance, something Muslims are warned about in the Quran as a big downfall in this life and the next.

Exercise is a tool to get to YOUR best shape and health, whatever that may be. And it does differ from one person to the next.
It is really not about fitting your pear shaped body into an hour glass shape, or an inverted triangle shape.

We are BLESSED with our bodies as our natural adornments.
It is only the narrow-mindedness of mainstream media that celebrates one body shape or ethnic beauty structure as the standard for all others to follow.

If you exercise for the sole purpose of achieving a certain weight or body shape, your attitude is setting you up for frustration, impatience and inevitably failure.
Typical thoughts that may go through your mind if you have this attitude:
- Oh no! I've only lost 2kg! (or 5cm!)
- I want to look like .... (fill the blank) or have the body of .... (fill the blank)
- Why is it taking me so long to lose all this weight?
- Maybe if I did Pilates I'd look like that.

Exercise is a way to love yourself, love your body. Take care of this blessing. So why become frustrated at it for not being something it was never meant to be?
Be FUN-ACTIVE instead of the above.

Get going with exercise as a way to appreciate your body. No matter its current shape or physical condition, it still serves you well by allowing you to experience this life and all in it.
It's a journey with a different destination than the first type.

Instead of achieving a certain body weight or shape, you only focus on what your body needs to get healthy and fit. Generally that means getting 30 mins to 45 mins of exercise in addition to normal activities, everyday. More on this later.

FUN-ACTIVE involves:
- Accepting yourself as you are now with all your pre-conceived flaws as well as your best points
- Appreciating your body for what it does right, which is allowing you to experience this physical world. Imagine not being able to see, touch or feel
your loved ones?
- Accepting the end result of your decision to get fit and healthy. Your body may change its shape, you may lose weight along the way. But do NOT
attach yourself to numbers and images. Accept, right now, the body you may in the future have as a result of exercise. And accept that while it
it may not be that shape you long for now, it will be whatever it is meant for. It will be beautiful, because it already is beautiful.
And when you focus on that, you get more of that.
- Giving yourself space to be who you are by not attaching to certain weight and body shapes that are not fitted to you.
- Creating and forging this relationship between yourself and your body, based on love: self-love.

This grows your physical body, and your soul and your mind. As they are all connected and in need of nurturing.
When your motivations for exercise stem from this FUN-ACTIVE attitude, you are more likely to stick to your regimen and enjoy it too!
There'll be less moments of frustration and impatience. And more amazement and joy at what your body can do, if only you let it be.