By Sarah Krumme Palmer, MS, CSCS, Parkinson-Exercise Specialist, owner of foreverfitness
I always hear people say you should be MOTIVATED to exercise! Why do people feel like they have to be MOTIVATED to workout? Or feel like they have to like to exercise? Do you have to like it? Do you have to feel driven, inspired, enthusiastic?
The word MOTIVATED is so overused in relation to exercise. And then you ask someone with Parkinson’s, who has a lack of dopamine, if they are motivated to exercise? Dopamine is involved in reward, MOTIVATION, memory, attention and regulating body movements. Hello? People with Parkinson’s do not have enough dopamine! If they don’t have enough of the chemical that helps them to be motivated to exercise, how can they be self-motivated to exercise?
I often see people put an emotional attachment to exercise as well. For example: I don’t FEEL like exercising. I don’t FEEL motivated to go for a walk. Will you only do it if you FEEL like it?
It puts a lot of pressure on us if we think we have to be MOTIVATED or FEEL like exercising. We know we NEED to exercise! We know people with Parkinson’s definitely need to exercise. We know they need to exercise every day! Exercise is medicine. It IS as important as taking your medications. How do we get in the exercise if we don’t feel motivated?
Do you FEEL MOTIVATED to brush your teeth? Wash your face? Take your vitamins? Or do you JUST DO IT? There are certain things we do every single day that are good for our health and hygiene, but we do NOT put any emotional attachment or feel like we
have to be motivated to do it. We JUST DO IT! And mostly without thinking about it. The same should go for exercise. Stop the madness of thinking you have to be motivated, or you have to LOVE it. Maybe you really don’t even like it, but you still have to do it. Take the emotion out of exercise! Stop thinking “I don’t really feel like doing this today” and just do it. Don’t even let yourself think about whether you feel like doing it or not. Do you debate in your head about whether or not you want to brush your teeth? I bet not. I bet we all waste a lot of time and energy on this mental debate.
Here is the real deal. You do NOT have to like exercise. You do not have to feel motivated or inspired to do it. You just have to do it! It is SO important to do - daily! And if you need help, there are so many different types of exercise, different types of group classes, and all of the exercise professionals out there ARE motivated and if you just get yourself to a class, WE will be your motivation and get you through the workout! WE are your dopamine for the class. All you need to do is just get yourself there, we do
the rest! And we can answer any questions and give guidance on your specific fitness program.
For Parkinson-specific exercise, I strongly recommend seeking out Exercise Professionals who have extensive Parkinson’s and Exercise education and experience.
So, in summary, take the emotion out of exercise, just do it! It even works for me! Now, get moving!