If you’ve ever said, “I have to work out,” instead of “I get to work out,” you’re not alone. For a lot of us, it takes time (and a little unlearning) to build a healthy relationship with exercise—one that’s rooted in self-respect instead of guilt, punishment, or the need to “earn” food.
As both a coach and a dietitian, I see this all the time: people start working out for the wrong reasons and end up burned out, injured, or miserable. But it doesn’t have to be that way. A healthy relationship with exercise can look like joy, confidence, and consistency—not obsession.
What a Healthy Relationship with Exercise Looks Like
A healthy relationship with exercise isn’t about doing more, sweating harder, or chasing a number on your smartwatch. It’s about movement that adds to your life, not takes away from it.
Here are a few signs you’re on the right track:
- You move because it feels good, not because you feel guilty.
- Rest days don’t make you anxious.
- You can skip a workout without spiraling.
- You celebrate progress that isn’t just physical—like more energy, better sleep, or mental clarity.
The goal is balance: workouts that challenge you and support your long-term well-being.
What Gets in the Way
A healthy relationship with exercise can get derailed by the same things that sabotage our relationship with food—comparison, perfectionism, and social media “fitspo.”
If you only value movement when it burns calories or sculpts your body, exercise becomes a transaction, not self-care. That mindset can make it hard to stay consistent or enjoy the process.
Instead, think about what movement gives you right now. A mood boost. A break from your phone. A stronger back so you can carry your kids or groceries without pain.
How to Rebuild (or Redefine) a Healthy Relationship with Exercise
If your relationship with movement has been a little rocky, here’s how to start fresh:
- Shift your language. Replace “I have to work out” with “I get to move.”
- Find your joy. Try different things—lifting, rucking, walking your dog, dancing in the kitchen—until you find something you love.
- Listen to your body. There’s a difference between discipline and self-punishment. Rest is productive.
- Set performance goals. Train to get stronger, faster, or more capable—not smaller.
- Get support. A good coach or community can help you stay consistent and grounded.
When you view exercise as an act of care, not penance, you’ll stick with it longer—and like yourself more along the way.
Final Thoughts
A healthy relationship with exercise isn’t about perfection—it’s about partnership. Your workouts should support your life, not run it. And if you’re not sure where to start, that’s literally what we’re here for.
Book a free consult and let’s create a fitness routine that makes you feel strong, capable, and genuinely excited to move again.
Updated October 2025
Kim Yawitz, RD, is a registered dietitian and the owner of Two Six Fitness.