Does it still count if you’re getting a boost?

I have a saying that if you need to support yourself to move in a certain way - like leaning on some furniture to get down to the ground, or using fingertips on the way to reassure you for balance - “it’s not cheating, it’s enabling.” 

This goes against a lot of noise online about doing this mobility test or that strength challenge. While the original intention may be to inspire, I know it can actually be off-putting for many.  After all, humans can often be very binary in their thinking: all or nothing, pass or fail. 

If a message leads someone to feel bad because they can’t do a movement or type of exercise (yet!), this is the worst outcome of all. Even worse is when it puts someone off trying in the first place. In that case, not only is there no benefit to be gained - but it can even lead to a negative association with movement altogether. 

So where do the unhelpful messages come from - the idea that if we help ourselves to move, we’re somehow cheating? Maybe it stems from the competition encouraged in school, or a natural survival instinct to prove ourselves. Who knows? But with messaging all around us, we need to stay mindful of how it seeps into our beliefs and behaviours. 

I found myself reflecting on this because of a recent holiday with some girlfriends. The plan was two days of cycling and two days of walking. If you follow my work, you’ll know the walking part is right up my street (especially as I’m walking every day for National Walking Month). But cycling? That’s not quite the same love story. 

I enjoy cycling in small doses, but I have a road bike in the garage that hasn’t been touched for years, and a mountain bike that has quietly developed two flat tyres. So you can see it’s not something I choose to do regularly!

What made this holiday more appealing was that the cycling was on e-bikes—and despite some initial anxiety about the planned 125km over two days, I was intrigued.

Which brings me back to the question: Is using help for a movement or type of exercise really “cheating”?

For me, if the cycling hadn’t been on e-bikes, I probably wouldn’t have gone. And if I hadn’t gone, I’d have missed not only the activity, but the conversations, the laughter, the scenery, and the experience of being somewhere new with great friends.

I’d never tried an e-bike before. But with friends singing their praises, and given my mum has one at 80, I knew I could. Yes, I still felt a bit anxious about the distance, but I was also excited for the challenge.

And it did not disappoint!

The experience far exceeded my expectations, and I’m now a total e-bike convert. It let me choose how much effort I wanted to put in, reminded me of everything I used to enjoy about cycling, and helped me stay in that sweet spot of enjoyment over exhaustion. I’ve long let go of needing to compete with myself—movement, for me, has to feel good to be sustainable.

I came away feeling proud, empowered, and with a new pathway opened to me. I’m already looking for opportunities to hire e-bikes and explore more of the UK. And that’s why I stand by my belief: helping yourself to move isn’t cheating - it’s enabling. Far from being a crutch, it’s a key to unlocking more movement, which leads to living more life.

My mantra is that every movement counts - and all movement brings benefit.
So let’s not be swayed by what others think. Let’s tune into our own inner stories and ask: what will I miss if I don’t give this a go?

The opportunity cost is just too great.