Philosophy & Advice

My philosophy

You have to enjoy it.

Exercise is something you have to like doing. Otherwise, you won’t do it. Part of that is finding healthy activities that you enjoy. Obviously, I like to play basketball, which is a fairly high-intensity workout. But I also like to do yoga, swim, bike, run and play with my son. A lot of times, a sport or outdoor activity can make exercising seem more fun.

Friendship helps.

Another thing that can make exercise more fun is teaming up with a friend. You’ll have someone to talk to, you won’t feel bored, and you’ll have someone to be accountable to if you slack off. Of course, you should pick someone with similar goals and dedication. Otherwise, you could end up using each other as excuses instead of motivators.

Every woman is different.

It’s important to find the workout that’s right for you. Maybe it’s not even a workout in the traditional sense of the word. Maybe it’s hiking, running with your dog, playing ultimate Frisbee or even chasing the kids around your yard. I like to spend time playing with my son Holden, and that’s kind of exercise in itself. As far as personal preference, I know women who are more into weight training and men who are more into cardiovascular workouts. If just one workout worked for everyone, there wouldn’t be thousands of books and magazine articles on the subject.

Spice it up a little.

They say variety is the spice of life, and I definitely like a lot of variety in my workouts. If I don’t mix it up, I get bored, which means I don’t enjoy exercising, which means it’s hard to get motivated. You don’t have to wait until you’re sick of one activity to try another, though. In a single week, I might do three or four different things; maybe playing basketball, swimming, biking and using the elliptical machine at the gym. I like to vary the conditioning activities for my team, too.

Set realistic goals, and be specific.

Being a very goal-oriented person has helped me a lot in my career. After my pregnancy, I set a goal of completing a mini triathlon that was four months away. Having put on a lot of baby weight, that was quite a challenge, but I felt it was realistic for me. Of course, if I hadn’t been an athlete and run triathlons before, I would have been setting myself up for disappointment. It’s important to set goals that are attainable, but not without a little bit of effort. Make them specific, too. “I will get in shape” is not a good goal. It’s too hard to measure and you’re more likely to fall short. “I will work out three times a week” is much better.

Be flexible, but not too flexible.

It’s important to maintain balance in your life. With games, practices, recruiting and a young child, my schedule changes daily. It would be nearly impossible for me to set a specific time for working out. So, rather than adhering to a schedule, I set priorities. Obviously, my husband and son are at the top of that list, but I still have to stay healthy. For example, I try to get at least an hour of exercise every day. Someone who’s just beginning to form healthy habits may find setting a schedule to be a big help. After a while, however, you almost have an internal gauge that tells you whether you’re moving forward or falling behind. Be flexible in your schedule and activities, but not in your dedication.