- Linda T Gottlieb, MA, CPT, CET
Your Exercise Traditions - Fit Training Blog for Women 40, 50 and Beyond
It's that time of year! The time for family holidays and the traditions that accompany them. Bet if I asked you, you could easily identify at least five traditions that surround holidays occurring in November and December, right?

And, betcha they are happy ones; perhaps sugar coated ones!
The dictionary defines a tradition as a long established or inherited way of thinking or acting. What if I asked you about other traditions you hold? Your exercise traditions - those long established beliefs around moving more? Could you identify any?
We all harbor beliefs around exercise and most Americans feel that the word "exercise" is one of those four letter words (even though it has eight).
So, starting right this minute, you have my permission to never even say the word “exercise” again. Try on new terms like “physical activity” or “daily movement” or "action" or "play!"
try some different words to see how they sound to you.
Here's an fun game. Please write some other words to replace “exercise” below. (Don’t forget to make them positive!)
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How easy was that? Simply by reframing a word, you can begin to leave negative beliefs, those traditions, surrounding it behind, and open your mind to a new way of thinking; one that just might open the door to a more active, healthier you.
Use your new words and see how they immediately change the way you view your relationship with this thing called “exercise”.
You may not quite know it yet, but you are already on your way to the changes you want to make in your life. Try these new words on for size this week and see if you can sneak a new tradition into your busy holiday schedule.
Need help? I'm a Master at Helping Folks Fit Fitness into Busy Lives, just holler!