It’s been over a year since I decided to quit the gym for good and aside from my regular praise for a balanced lifestyle, “fitness” isn’t something I’ve talked about for a while on my blog.
Since my blog was born around fitness and healthy eating, I think it’s time I finally address my decision to quit the gym and why. If I’m honest, I never made a big deal of it back then because I never really believed that I would eventually leave the gym, I just preferred to take a big break to help my body heal. totally reset for the sake of mine. imbalanced hormones.
Most of my readers and followers on social media will know that 3 or 4 years ago my whole life revolved around fitness and healthy eating. First came home workouts, then the gym, and finally CrossFit, the start of a series of hormonal issues for me.
Rewind to 3 years ago, I was working out 6 times a week, eating way fewer calories than I should have (not on purpose) and sometimes often working out 2 times a day so I could achieve that extremely toned look I always wanted. I loved exercising and shortly after joining CrossFit, I breathed exercise.
At the time, I had no idea the damage I was doing to my hormones by increasing my cortisol levels and consuming fewer calories than my body actually needed, but eventually the symptoms became evident and by September 2021, a few years after stopping CrossFit. and no signs of hormonal improvement, I decided to put my gym membership on hold in an attempt to give my body the rest it truly deserved… The rest it desperately needed after 4-5 years of intense fitness and constant speeds.
Over the past year, my mindset and approach to fitness and healthy eating has completely changed for the better. While I always preach the benefits of daily exercise and yoga, I can absolutely (and quite easily) go a week or two without working out and I won’t feel guilty. I haven’t done a “workout” as such since September 21st, but I still enjoy a good walk and light yoga, probably 2-3 times a week. For me, it’s the perfect balance of movements that makes me feel good and is the reason I decided to leave the gym for good. I also love the breathwork sessions…something I definitely didn’t think I’d say this time last year!!
Looking back now on my early days in fitness, I was young, a victim of diet culture, and had a lot more free time to obsess over something. Now I’m older, wiser and smarter and I know better that looking a certain way won’t make me happier or more fulfilled in life. In fact, I’m more satisfied with who I am now: I never think about how I “should” look, but am simply content with the current state of my body.
Now I have time to do all the things I love in life, while having a more balanced approach to movement – something my mind and body desperately needed. Who knows if I’ll ever return to the gym, but for now I’ll stick to weekly yoga flows, my favorite outdoor walks, and as many hikes as I can convince Doug.
Hannah x
PS, this article is sponsored by adidas. You can find my crop top, shorts, socks and trainers at adidas.co.uk