MOVE: The Second Pillar
MOVEment is the second pillar of Heather Martin Nutrition, and it’s been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. As many of you know, I was a competitive figure skater for over 15 years. Being an athlete meant that movement was a daily part of my routine—whether I liked it or not. And believe me, there were many days when I didn’t enjoy it. My weeks were filled with on-ice training, off-ice workouts, running, Zumba classes, and everyone’s “favourite” interpretive movement sessions.
Transition from Athlete to Student
Because movement was so ingrained in my life, I never truly appreciated how much my body needed it. That realization didn’t come until I moved away for university. While I still skated for the figure skating team at Western University, it was nowhere near as intense as my previous training schedule. Suddenly, I had more free time than I’d ever had before—and I wasn’t exactly filling it with gym sessions or Zumba classes. Off-ice training was replaced with late-night study sessions, and interpretive movement classes turned into dancing at the bars.
I did attempt to go to the gym from time to time, but honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. I fell into the classic trap of a first-time gym-goer: I tried random workouts promising quick fixes, but they yielded little results and made me want to quit. This went on for years until one day, I woke up feeling “weak”—something I had never experienced before. Growing up, I was known as the strong skater, with the classic skater quads to prove it. So, feeling weak was unsettling. I decided it was time to get back to the gym—but this time, with a plan.
Finding My Footing
That plan turned into a new routine, and I started to prioritize movement once again. The routine looked different from what I was used to, but it made me feel strong. And when I feel strong, I feel confident. I was proud of myself for sticking with this routine during my last two years of university. But, as with most things, nothing good lasts forever. After graduating and entering the “real world,” my routine fell apart. I went from having lots of free time to catching the 6 a.m. train to Toronto for work, only to return home at 6:30 p.m., too tired to think about moving my body. Slowly but surely, that weak feeling crept back in.
This period of my life also marked a big transition—my body was changing, and for the first time, I couldn’t introduce myself as “Heather the figure skater” anymore. Cue the identity crisis.
The Push
Determined to feel like the best version of myself, I dove into a new diet plan and discovered kickboxing. A few months later, I felt stronger again—and I was hooked. But then, COVID hit, and everything changed. Stuck at home, with nowhere to go and nothing to do, I became obsessed with becoming my “skater self” again. I ran, worked out twice a day, and took my diet plan to the extreme. My whole day was scheduled around my workouts, and I started to decline social events if they interfered with my routine. I didn’t want to hear anyone’s concerns that I might be overdoing it. In my mind, I was losing weight and getting closer to looking like I did when I felt my best. But ironically, the more weight I lost, the weaker I felt—physically strong, but mentally and emotionally drained.
“That’s when it hit me: Maybe they were right. Maybe I was overdoing it.”
The Shift
Once again, I found myself at square one—trying to figure out how to move my body in a post-figure-skating world. The next few years became a journey of discovering what healthy, sustainable movement looks like for me. What forms of movement do I actually enjoy? How can I prioritize movement without letting it become an obsession? How do I listen to my body and know when to push myself harder or when to rest? And most importantly, how do I separate working out from the way my body looks?
Through trial and error, I learned a crucial lesson: movement is ever-changing. What works for me now might not work in six months. The key is adaptability—movement needs to evolve as my life does.
As I shifted my perspective, I was able to reflect more meaningfully on what movement means to me.
MOVE:
Motivating: Movement should inspire me to be the healthiest version of myself. It should challenge me, but also excite and energize me.
Open: I need to be willing to try new forms of movement. What works for someone else may not be right for me, and that’s okay.
Versatile: Movement should be flexible. Some days, I’ll be up for an intense gym session; other days, I might prefer a long walk or a calming yoga session. I meet my body where it is that day.
Enjoy: Movement should be fun! I need to do activities that bring me joy. After all, moving my body is a privilege, not a punishment.
Now, I want to ask you: How does movement show up in your life? Does it motivate you? Are you open to trying new things, or are you stuck in a rigid routine? Do you enjoy it? If the answers are no, it might be time for a change. I challenge you to try one new form of movement this month and see how it feels.
The goal of this blog section is to explore all things movement—why we move, how we move, and how to separate movement from the way we look. There’s so much to unpack, and I’m excited to share more with you on how to transform your relationship with movement.
Get your MOVE on!