From skwigg's journal:
If I had to struggle into gym clothes, tie shoes, and workout for 30 intense minutes every time, I’d probably never exercise again. :-) That kind of thing is why I quit the gym. I normally workout for 5-10 minutes barefoot in pajamas. That I can manage every day, no problem. My exercise mat and kettlebells are halfway between the bed and the shower. I only have to stumble a few feet, do some push-ups and deadlifts, then bathe. ZGYM has become a step in getting ready in the morning, like brushing my teeth, so no motivation required, though I do look forward to it and feel good afterward. If I’m not feeling particularly bouncy, I do some quick stretches, foam rolling, or abs. If I’m super energetic, I’ll use heavier weights and do longer or more intense workouts, but it’s still just a few minutes on my way to the shower, the exact opposite of when my life revolved around my workout schedule.
I realize that my mindset around exercising has changed completely. It used to be about looking a certain way or achieving a certain weight. There was a lot of fear involved, unquestioned thoughts, and anxiety about what others might think, which made the workouts themselves a kind of sucky overkill. Now, I exercise to have fun, feel good, boost my mood, and be healthy, strong, agile, and flexible. I want to age gracefully, but I’m already old (LOL), so I need workouts that make life better TODAY. No more smashing myself to look a certain way in 12 weeks. It’s not that I don’t care at all how I look. It’s that my workouts and way of eating feel so good that I’m happy in my own skin, even if my weight isn’t as low or my muscles as big as they’ve ever been. Whatever look that kind of mental and physical wellbeing produces is the look for me.
Are there other at-home pajama exercisers or is that just me? I watch inspiring videos of others killing it in the gym, wearing the cutest outfits, using the newest equipment, preaching hard work and clean eating. Sometimes I get a pang of missing that, but I always come to my senses and watch some sloth videos.
That was a big benefit of getting away from gym culture. Everyone there is crazy, I now realize. LOL I certainly was, as was everyone around me. We fed each other's fears and insecurities with constant comparison and judgment. Same with diet/fitness social media. When all the noise dies down and there's nothing to compare yourself to, you're left with how YOU feel and what YOU want to do today. No worries about what the peanut gallery will think.
I was under the impression for quite a long time that I had to wear special clothes, go to a designated space at an optimal time, and do specially designed programs or I was wasting my time. That mindset came from years of fitness information overload. Diet/fitness culture makes it all seem SO complicated. The overall message is, "You're doing it wrong." Not super encouraging. I want to tell people, if you're doing anything, you're awesome! You go! Have fun! It works!! I don't think we hear that enough.
Ah, yes. If you feel like you have to get dressed, go somewhere, and do something formal in order to move, not as much moving happens. It's really fun to see how you can fit little movement breaks into the day.
Good point about sweat. I just finished a jump rope workout and I'm soaked. What I find is that my cheap baggy lounge shorts and various ratty sports bra combos are actually much easier to throw in the laundry and wash frequently than "nice" activewear fabrics. I always have concerns about destroying those in a hot dryer, but pajama shorts and cheap 3-pack cotton sports bras cost a fraction and seem to last for all eternity. I'm really enjoying the no-shoes aspect too. Why did I have special shoes for doing "barefoot" exercises like kettlebell swings? I do not know. Barefoot itself works fine. Even jumping exercises are fine on my nearly inch-thick Spri exercise mat. I don't think I'd jump barefoot on hardwood floors or a little yoga mat. But most days for most workouts, my feet can be free and my workout clothes can be baggy and easily washed. I save the shoes for dog walks and the nice activewear for if I ever workout in public again.