Te miért edzel?

Lately, I've been hearing more and more often from you that, although I'm sure it's out of absolute well-meaning curiosity and without malice, you get a question that makes you swallow hard before you answer...

How many times have you heard the question expressing genuine astonishment, how many times have you seen the wide-open eyes...

"Wow, you only train at home? "

Try to take it as a compliment, it must be hard for them to imagine that you have such a shapely back without professional help...

The other favourite, and one that will blow many people's minds:

"Poor you, you're sick, so you have to exercise every day?"

I am convinced that for many people, a personal trainer is actually there to motivate you to achieve your daily sporting goals. If you're waiting for someone at the gym, it's simply harder to cancel an appointment and it's embarrassing not to go. You won't cheat half the reps if someone is watching and counting while you do it.

The problem is that this type of thinking can practically take away your enjoyment of the sport for life, you will never enjoy it!

You may have heard of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation.

External motivation is when something outside of us makes us do a certain thing. For example, you can go to medical school because that's what mum and dad expect, and that's how they'll be proud. You can run the 10 kilometres on the treadmill because you wish your boyfriend would stop teasing you about your bulging belly and because your smart watch keeps track of the number of calories you burn.

Or you can go to medical school out of a passion for science, a desire to help people, people who are suffering, because you are fascinated by the world of surgery and more than anything else, you are interested in anatomy and physiology. You can run the 10 kilometres because you enjoy every step of the way, your head is clearing, or because that's when you have your world-changing thoughts and you love to feel your muscles move and your legs move, you're strong and flexible...

Who will love it, who will graduate from university with better results, who will put on their running shoes tomorrow with renewed vigour and a happy smile?

One whose motivation comes from within, not from without.

So, if someone tells you that you "only" exercise at home, that you only run "for yourself", smile and know that you don't have to push yourself, you don't have to force yourself to exercise, to do yoga, to jog, because you love yourself, you love your body, you are happy to support and nurture it as best you can.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not speaking against any one profession when it comes to personal trainers, of course there are countless wonderful professionals from whom you can learn a lot. If you want to read up on this, I recommend Michael Matthews, every word of which he has written in the introduction to his book The Science of Women's Body Sculpting is a treasure.

It's simply about doing self-care for yourself, for yourself, and not letting anyone take the joy of the movement away from you with perceived or real disparaging comments.

The good thing about sport is that even my clients who started exercising because of the endometriosis lifestyle change, they have fallen in love with this health-conscious lifestyle in no time and if they miss a session for some reason, they feel a sense of loss. At first, the endometriosis lifestyle change may seem like an external motivation, but very soon it becomes a hobby in itself, a beloved hobby that shows you that your body is strong and healthy and you can count on it, you're a good team!

Don't forget for a moment that you are your own greatest expert!

You know what feels good, you know what makes you feel nice and tired but not gutted, you know where your limits are, so whether you're training at home or in the gym, alone or in a group, the important thing is to do it and enjoy every minute of it.

Find the form of exercise that really suits you and know that every minute is precious.

Remember, smart people often rationalise their own laziness with hurtful revelations.

The "Poor you, you have to do this, or the "Oh, just at home, it's no use, I wouldn't even start, I'll go to the gym when I have more time" type of people, when they get home in the evening, tired and exhausted, they lie on the couch with a bag of chips, while you're already putting on the yoga video or buying the running shoes... You know they'll be there tomorrow, while you're there yesterday, today, and every single day.

Run, walk as slowly as you like, never forget how much faster you are than the person sitting on the sofa!

You exercise "only" at home, "only" 25 minutes every day, and where do you think you'll be in a year? And the other one, who always starts "tomorrow", where will he be?

Every day "just" a little dedicated, persistent work towards your goals will take you further than you ever thought possible. This is true for sport, lifestyle, physical and mental health.

Every day, for a year - I'll introduce you to the 1evalatt.hu, for the truly dedicated!

For those who will look in the mirror a year from now, happy, proud, changed, physically and mentally fit.

Do it for yourself, because it's good. It's that simple.

Shake your life to the core- online 365-day programme Nóra Árvai, psychologist, science communication specialist.