Giving Thanks for Fitness Progress
By Ryn Tucker
As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re surrounded by messages of gratitude. We’re encouraged to have grateful hearts and celebrate time spent with loved ones. However, there’s one area we often forget to appreciate: our own fitness journey.
It can be tough to do that during the holidays. Some feel guilty for taking a step back, while others completely let go. I don’t want that to be you this year. Instead of punishing yourself, let this season be the perfect time to pause and be thankful for your body and how far you’ve come.
Since I love lists, I’ve compiled one for you. Here are some ways to give thanks for your fitness progress.
Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
We tend to focus on how far we still want to go: a distance you wish to run, a new weight you want to lift, a yoga pose you haven’t mastered. But progress isn’t just about the destination. Think about the ways in which you have progressed, no matter how small. Maybe you have been more consistent with your workouts, or are able to do longer classes, or even able to reach further in a stretch. Pick one small thing to appreciate and give yourself ten Rynpoints for me.
Appreciate Your Body For Showing Up
Your body may not be perfect, but it’s yours. It carries you through workouts, walks, stretches, and everything in between. Take a moment this season to thank your body: for healing, for growing stronger, for adapting, and for simply moving. I try to say one thing I’m grateful for about my body per day. Some days are tougher than others, but I always come up with something. I want you to try this, too.
Reflect, Don’t Compare
Thanksgiving is about connection, not competition. Scrolling through fitness influencers or comparing your routine to someone else’s can leave you feeling like you’re not doing enough. But your journey is your own. Reflect on where you were last year, not where someone else is today.
Let Gratitude Fuel Motivation
Being thankful for what you’ve achieved can actually help you stay motivated. Gratitude shifts your focus from goals you haven’t achieved to what could be possible for you. The more you recognize your wins, the more momentum you build to keep going.
Don’t Give Up
One of the most powerful ways to show gratitude for your progress is by not giving up. This holiday season your schedule may change and you may lose sight of your goals, but don’t throw in the towel. Show up by continuing to move in any capacity. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be meaningful. Walk in place, play with kids or pets, or simply put on a fun song and dance.
Wrapping it Up
Fitness progress isn’t perfection. It’s a practice. Return to your practice in any way possible, day in and out. Wherever you are on your journey, take a moment this Thanksgiving to say thank you. Say thanks to your past self for starting, to your present self for showing up, and set your intention to not give up in the future.
Oh and one more thing, if anyone hasn’t told you recently, I’m thankful for YOU. You are a beautiful person of Echelon and I celebrate your progress.
