Do You Have Difficulty Sustaining Your Exercise Program?

"I can kind of get lost in my thoughts and I think that's my own therapy session. Working out helped to clear the mind and get rid of stress. Some found their exercise sessions almost like therapy, emphasizing the mental benefits of exercise over purely physical health outcomes."

"Now I've realized it's not something that has to be done. It just is something that is enjoyable. It's a supplement to everything else going on in my life. These exercisers gained self-love through exercise and this created happiness in other parts of their lives."

Research with 11 experienced women exercisers revealed key factors sustaining regular fitness routines. These women, exercising at least five days weekly across diverse activities including weight training, running, yoga, and crossfit, identified internal motivation as central to persistence. Mental health benefits—stress relief, mental clarity, and therapeutic effects—ranked as primary motivations alongside physical health. The women emphasized enjoyment and self-love gained through exercise, viewing workouts as self-care rather than obligations. External pressures and guilt-based motivation created negative feelings and reduced adherence. Exercise empowered participants by building physical and mental strength, increasing self-confidence. The research used phenomenological design to understand lived experiences and personal meanings attached to fitness participation.

Read at Psychology Today