I just cannot express how much I’m loving Jamie’s IE Challenge!
We’re nearing the end of the challenge (tomorrow being the last day), but I most definitely know that my own personal IE journey is not coming to an end. It’s only getting started, really.
I have so much to say about IE, but also still so much to learn, so I’ll keep learning, but I will also continue sharing pieces of my IE journey with you, too! 
Throughout the IE Challenge, we’ve touched on a lot of different topics. Obviously we’ve focused on food, but we’ve also focused on other areas as well – one of them being exercise!
There’s something called intuitive exercise, you know?
The day we focused on exercising intuitively, I began to think about my current relationship with exercise and, as I thought, I realized how healthy my relationship with exercise is today.
But, it wasn’t always this way…
I definitely went through a period of obsession. I felt that I had to exercise every day. Whether it be weight lifting, sprints on the treadmill, a quick tabata workout, or a bodyweight strength training workout that I could do at home, I had the thought engraved into my mind that I had to do some type of exercise each and every day.
Luckily, that thought is no longer engraved into my mind!
I go to the gym four days out of the week and rest for the other three.
When I began following this particular workout schedule, I definitely felt antsy on those three rest days. I had trouble resting, so I would always be thinking of little workouts that I could do at home just to do something.
For some reason, the word rest freaked me out and seemed like something that shouldn’t be allowed.
When I think back to a few years ago, last year, and even this summer, there were times I exercised when I didn’t really want to. I pushed myself to exercise because I thought I should.
Well, this is not exercising intuitively at all!
Today, I’m able to sit, relax, and be free from thoughts telling me that I have to do something.
I’m being completely honest when I say that I spent this entire weekend planted on the couch, curled up with a blanket, a warm cup of tea, and a ton of movies (ok, not many movies, more Food Network than anything…)
I rested.
I’m proud to say that I have such a comfortable relationship with exercise now. I call this a healthy relationship!
I don’t push myself to do things I don’t want to do nor do I feel like I cannot rest. I deserve rest and I allow myself to have it.
The particular workout regimen I mentioned above, four days of weight lifting and three days of rest, works for me and makes me happy. That’s what’s most important
Of course I could do more and I could do less, but this is what works for me, so I’ll stick with it!
As I said, I call my relationship with exercise a healthy relationship and I was so proud to realize how far I’ve come when we were presented with this topic throughout the IE Challenge. It felt amazing to answer “no!” to Jamie’s question when she asked “does your exercise feel forced?” and it felt even more amazing to answer “yes!” when she asked “do you enjoy the type of exercise you do?”
I can also say I enjoy rest days now, too. I write this post today because today is a rest day for me (a.k.a. growth day 
)
As I’ve shared with you last week, I’m working on repairing my relationship with food. Therefore, I am working on making my relationship a healthy one, just like my relationship with exercise is!
Of course it frustrates me that my relationship with food isn’t as amazing or as healthy as my relationship with exercise, but I’m working on it and I’m making progress every day.
My relationship with food is better than it was last year, than a month ago, than last week, and than yesterday. I’m making improvements and repairing my relationship every day.
I’m becoming more comfortable and not feeling tied to silly rules anymore. It seems much more like “the good old days”
I eat what I crave and I don’t hold back.
Because food is good and we are friends
How does your relationship with exercise compare to the relationship you have with food? Can you improve on either? Can you improve on both?
Have you ever struggled with your relationship with food or exercise? How did you overcome it?
See you tomorrow love bugs!
Meg xo
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
Exercise is kind of like medicine for me. I honestly do love yoga and running, but there are so many days when I feel tired or frustrated. Those are the days I need exercise the most and I always remind myself of that to push through. I try to balance working 5-6 days a week with teaching, studying, working another job and finding time for family. It’s not easy but for me it’s necessary.
I’m so proud of you for taking on this IE challenge so enthusiastically and am also as always looking to you for inspiration on improving my relationship with exercise! I really want to get to the point where I can put my feet up and not work out for a day and not be bothered by the thoughts of worthlessness. I definitely still struggle with feeling like I need to do something each day and I want to really truly learn that not working out for a day doesn’t make me weak, it makes me strong b/c it means I am confident in my ability to fight the bad thoughts and accept the body’s need to rest. Love you!
I love you so much and I’m soooooo excited for a day or two of rest when I come to CT
I started listening to my body a lot when it came to CrossFit. While I LOVE the CrossFit style exercises, I wasn’t digging a class that I had bought vouchers for. I went to the intro class and just one more class before realizing that I was making excuses not to go. I still haven’t finished using the sessions and instead spend my time doing the exercises myself or working out in another way that I love.
Loving your posts on the whole IE thing. With exercise I’m definitely listening to my body a lot more now and when I’m really tired or sick actually taking some more rest days. I find I can be more antsy on those days but I also find I enjoy those days more than I used to.
They’ll keep getting easier
Such a great post! Thank you for being so honest.
Always <3
I love rest days, but I do make sure to get some movement into each day. Maybe that’s not true for everyone, but I need it. This is easy if you have a dog, because they have to be walked every day.
There’s a big difference, at least to me, between walks and exercise.
Do you walk on your rest days?
Yes, I do walk. Sometimes just around my house doing daily activities such as cleaning and sometimes I go for a walk with my dog, but I never feel like I HAVE to go for a walk.
Yeah, I feel like I have to walk. I mean, physically I know it’s good for me to move because I have scoliosis, but it’s more than that. If I don’t walk I feel lazy. Even if I did a ton the day before. This is something I’ll have to think about.
I definitely need to work on this. sometimes i feel like i push myself too hard, and then i get injured….hmmm maybe my body is trying to tell me something? haha way to go babe you’re doing great!
Thanks Madi
good luck to you <3
Applause for being where you’re at today with your relationships with food AND exercise, such huge gains you’ve made. I’m slowly working on the rest day aspect of my routine, getting better as each week goes on. Just focussing on how much better I FEEL after a rest day is helpful! Happy Wednesday lady
Good for you girl!
This is such an important topic and I think it really relates to the post I shared today too. So many people are convinced that they HAVE to work out every day and, if they don’t, they need to cut back on calories to make up for it. That’s not how it works! Our bodies need rest days and we should never use exercise as a means of allowing ourselves to eat more.
I think comparing ourselves and our routines to other people is where most of the issue lies. We start to think “well, they ran 5 miles today, I probably should too…” or “they didn’t take any rest days so I obviously don’t need them either…” It’s ridiculous! We’re all different and our diet/exercise routines are going to be different too!
So proud of you!
Comparison is awful! You’re so right, it’s definitely the source to many obsessions!
I definitely went through a period of no rest days. I could be sick, throwing up, have a full schedule, or ANYTHING but I would not say no to working out. This is probably what lead to my life changing injury which I’m STILL dealing with… I didn’t listen to my body and it started screaming… And I’m still paying for it. I could cry just thinking about how much I would take it all back with what I’ve learned on my journey thus far. I still have a lot to learn but it’s a hard journey for sure!
Btw, food network is the best thing to watch on the weekends! I love the fact it’s just back to back cooking shows (Hello, Paula Dean’s good-looking son!)
I would totally love it if you wrote a guest post for me about how much you wish you rested! I can feel your passion!
I need to work on both but currently more on the exercise front.
Thank you for this, it spoke to my heart.
I had you in mind
<3
I really needed this today! I am loving these posts on IE and reading about your journey. We all have struggles, and exercising because I HAVE to something I struggle with- to the point where I feel like if it wasn’t a “good enough” workout I should workout again (doubles).
I really do LOVE to workout and love to exercise, but the line is often blurred between love and obsession. I “allow” one rest day a week, but workout even when I don’t feel like it but feel like I should. It’s a struggle I am working on.
Thanks for this post, Meg!
You should challenge yourself to more rest babe
I’m here to support you! It’ll be uncomfortable at first, but your body will appreciate it so much
This post and your worries totally resonated with me! I know for me, rest days were tricky. I’d fill them with 120910291 errands–not restful at all! I still have to make sure that I keep my head straight on days off. There’s power in being able to take a rest day b/c you know you need it, not b/c you don’t have time to train.
I don’t work out hard everyday but I definitely try to do something active each day
After all, that’s whats recommended and what makes me feel relaxed and healthy
girl it sounds like you have gained so much from this experience!!! learning to have a healthy relationship with all aspects of life is key to happiness. it takes time and patience, as well as self forgiveness, to become to a state of peace!!
xoxo
I know that right now I have an unhealthy relationship with exercise. I felt like you did. I have to do something or it feels wrong and I get down on myself. I hope to overcome this and learn to give my body the rest days it needs. Thanks for sharing. You give me inspiration.
Good luck sweetie! xoxo I’m here to support you!
When I made the decision to change my relationship with food, I subconsciously changed my relationship with exercise. It is still not perfect…but I’m glad to know that they BOTH are improving.
My relationship with both are abnormal. I definitely repaired my relationship with working out better than with food. With working out, I had to slow down because I was injuring myself. Your posts have really helped, especially the idea of rest days as growth days. I think of them that way now and for that, I thank you.
As for eating, I’m still working at it. I have to plan meals and while I deleted those calorie-counters, I’ve done it for so long that I still calculate it in my head. Seeing your “adventures” is really helpful. Please update us more on this.
So happy to know that some of my posts have helped you!!
And I promise that I’ll keep updating you!!
OMG I am just like you – I HAVE NO IDEA what REST DAYS MEAN!! And I still don’t! I don’t think I ever will either. 7 Days a week – EXERCISE- I feel lazy & tired otherwise. Clearly, I am obsessed! LOL!
Oh sis, I LOVE this post!! It makes me so happy that you now have a healthy relationship with exercise, and that you’re able to acknowledge your body’s signals and rest with a quiet mind and heart. So inspiring. <3
Even though I take rest days, I occasionally feel as though I "should" be moving more. This has improved significantly over the years, but those thoughts still tap me on the back every now and then. My relationship with food is pretty solid–I have no problem "indulging" in rich food without feeling guilty about it (okay, sometimes guilt sets in for a few seconds, but I'm always able to kick it away); in fact–sometimes I think my approach to eating has become a bit too lax!
That's changed a bit with my stomach issues, though…I have to be really careful now, but it's not because I fear a food isn't "good for me," but because I worry it will upset my stomach. Hopefully that will improve soon, though!
Love you, and so so SO happy we're going to FaceTime soon!! <3 xoxoxo
I really want to FT soon sis!!!!!!!
I really love learning more and more about the IE journey that you are on. Oh my goodness, my relationship with exercise has had it’s ups and downs that is for sure. And learning to listen to my body when it needs rest hasn’t always come easy to me, but I really feel like I am at a better place with it. I don’t workout when I feel guilty for eating something I shouldn’t anymore. If I feel the least bit tired due to diet and lack of sleep, I don’t work out.
What keeps me focused is having my workout week planned… knowing what I am going to do. But with every plan, there is always room for adjustments
Great post!
That is so awesome to hear!!! I definitely used to be the same way (I HAD to work out every day!) but now I’m much more relaxed about my schedule!
Love you!
I have struggled with exercise and it was a rough road to get over, had some real dark days. Nothing worth it is easy, I always kept that thought in my head and I focused on what is best for ME too.
I am so happy exercise and I have a healthy relationship now, I don’t compare, don’t workout if I don’t feel it that day, and just do what is best for my body and baby g too! <3
<3<3 working on getting to a great place like that! I definitely LOVE exercise, but I do sometimes get antsy If I can't that day. And it's hard with so much info out there – you need to lift, do cardio, do yoga, intervals! You can't fit it all in, you know? So I have to stick with what feels GOOD for me and recently that's been more spinning, dancing, and calming yoga:)
Im glad you posted about this topic. I too get antsy on days where i dont work out and struggle with that feeling. I almost feeling guilty when i do not go to the gym! and i need to realize that having days off from working out are necessary. Plus there is a big difference between being lazy and being tired. and its ok to be too tired to go to the gym sometimes.
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!! Trust me
you will benefit in SOOOO many ways from rest 
I used to feel like I “had” to workout everyday too. It started out that I was just going to the gym and doing my thing…I love the endorphins, I love mixing it up with cardio, weights, and circuits…then it just became sort of a habit. Every morning, I would wake up, throw on my workout clothes and head to the gym. The only day that was different was Sundays since my gym doesn’t open until noon…but by then, I would usually feel so antsy that I would get up and go for a walk or run outside (if the weather was nice that is). Then, one day, I got to the gym, I jumped on an elliptical to start my warm up, and I stopped…I realized at that moment I didn’t WANT to be there! It was a strange feeling at first. I mean, I’d never stopped to ask myself IF I wanted to workout…I just DID! At first I ignored the feeling. I kept at my routine for a week or so, but then I started to notice that my workouts were suffering. I wasn’t giving it my all. Heck, some days I didn’t even break a sweat! I realized that over time, what had started as a “healthy habit” had transformed itself into a habit of obligation. It took a while for me to be ok with NOT working out every day, but I finally got BACK to how I had done things before…taking them one day at a time. I don’t plan for rest days, I just listen to my body.
I struggled with both, but now I’m at a good place. We NEED to chat soon!
PLEASE! <3
great post! I had the same relationship with exercise a few years ago where i felt like a lazy a** and thought I would get fat if i missed a workout. I often worked out 2x a day if I felt the first workout wasn’t hard enough or if i didn’t have time to do cardio AFTER my weights workout. and now, if I don’t feel like working out, I don’t. If I get to the gym and I”m not feeling it, I cut it short. My workouts last week were pretty low-key and I took 2 extra rest days but that’s ok. i’m listening to my body and guilt isn’t associated with workouts – those missed or those done – anymore. Which is a VERY good thing.
Hey Teri!
Oh, your post was the HIGHLIGHT of my day
<3 I am so blessed to have you comment on my blog <3
I can relate to EVERYTHING you said, sweetie! Now I have NO guilt whatsoever! This past week I took four days off just cause I WAS NOT IN THE MOOD! I would have gone crazy a few months ago – in such a good place right now! Thank goodness!
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