Transcript: Why Joy Is the Most Underrated Weight Loss Strategy

Yeah, if you're not having fun, you're probably not going to stick with working out. What's up, you guys? Famous Ashley Garrett here. Welcome to More Movement, Please, the podcast where I hope to inspire you to move your body more. Today, I have another awesome voice note to share with you. This one comes to us from Gail Lazarus. She is a certified Zumba and fitness instructor, and here's what she's got to say. Joy. Yep. Joy is the most underrated weight loss strategy there is. When movement feels good, you are far more likely to stick with it than if you are driven by guilt or obligation. Consistency matters far more than intensity as we get older. Now I know, finding joy in movement isn't always easy. If it were, everyone would be exercising. And if you're discouraged or never liked it, start small.

Try something gentle or experiment with different ways to move. And try adding music. It can be a powerful game changer. Uplifting, encouraging music can boost your mood and make exercise feel easier, helping you stick with it over time. It can literally put some pep in your step. I've watched clients shift from I know I should exercise too. I get to move today. And that mindset shift is often where lasting change begins. I'm Gail Lazarus, Certified Chair One Zumba and LaBlast Fitness Instructor. And for over nine years, I've helped women build sustainable routines by making movement energizing, accessible, and over time, genuinely joyful. I got to say, I completely agree with Gail. If you're not having fun, you're not going to keep moving. You're not going to keep going and working out. So that is the big reason that I chose group fitness over a lot of the other options that were available

to me. I've talked about this before and I'll say it again. I really love the group fitness aspect because that's what is that that's what's so much fun for me. I absolutely love working out with other people being in the same room as we're all working towards the same goals. And the other thing that I absolutely love about the group fitness classes that I chose is my instructor plays the best music. Like I sometimes will have. the songs that she uses in my head for days. And I just absolutely love the energy that it brings to the workouts. There is something so powerful about having really good music that is just pumping through the speakers as you are trying to work out and get in shape. So if you're not enjoying where it is you're working out or how you're working out. Kind of just take a step back and examine what you're doing, what you're experiencing, how you're feeling. Because I think

what you'll find is there are ways that you can bring some fun and some joy to every single exercise that you do. And even if it hurts, like you could still be enjoying yourself. Like you can be in pain and still having fun. And the results that you will get for it are just so worth it. So I highly recommend if you're not enjoying how you're working out. Examine how you're working out. Take a look at what you're doing and try to find some way to put some joy back into your movement. That's what I've got for you today.