I tend to get my back up every time I encounter a news story with titles like “Exercise: You’re doing it wrong!” or “You won’t lose weight exercising”. It’s not that the content of the story might not be factual and valuable. For example, I found the recent news discussing how big companies are distorting the research to look like exercise is more important than food choices for weight loss illuminating. However, I do feel like many of these articles feed into an idea that I find problematic: that there is only one goal of exercise, and that is to achieve a certain aesthetic ideal.
Of course, for many people this is the goal, and some achieve it. But a lot of people who set out looking for their ideal body type through exercise end up quitting early into their journey. It’s a shame, when there are so many other health benefits of exercise, not to mention the other things people get out of it, like stress relief, a social network, or just plain having fun doing it.
Some of my issues with this idea are personally motivated (I extrapolated on this in my other blog). A lot are based on talking to people who give up quickly on exercise when they don’t see the numbers on the scale dropping, and because of that focus on one goal, have difficulty giving it enough time to see some of the other great things that come from activity.
Let’s be honest, the first few weeks of any new exercise routine, be it deciding to start running, or join a recreational sport, or seeing a personal trainer, are going to suck for most mortals. You’re doing things that your body hasn’t done in a while and it takes time to adjust. It also takes time for that work to show on your body and on the scale. Goals based on those factors are unlikely to pull you through those difficult weeks, so that you won’t even get to the point where you can start achieving them.
So, I’ve told you what not to focus on, but, if you’re not thinking about weight loss then what is going to motivate you to start a new exercise program? Here are some ideas…
Of course, for many people this is the goal, and some achieve it. But a lot of people who set out looking for their ideal body type through exercise end up quitting early into their journey. It’s a shame, when there are so many other health benefits of exercise, not to mention the other things people get out of it, like stress relief, a social network, or just plain having fun doing it.
Some of my issues with this idea are personally motivated (I extrapolated on this in my other blog). A lot are based on talking to people who give up quickly on exercise when they don’t see the numbers on the scale dropping, and because of that focus on one goal, have difficulty giving it enough time to see some of the other great things that come from activity.
Let’s be honest, the first few weeks of any new exercise routine, be it deciding to start running, or join a recreational sport, or seeing a personal trainer, are going to suck for most mortals. You’re doing things that your body hasn’t done in a while and it takes time to adjust. It also takes time for that work to show on your body and on the scale. Goals based on those factors are unlikely to pull you through those difficult weeks, so that you won’t even get to the point where you can start achieving them.
So, I’ve told you what not to focus on, but, if you’re not thinking about weight loss then what is going to motivate you to start a new exercise program? Here are some ideas…
- Health! I know it’s obvious, but apart from simply losing weight, exercise decreases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and many other chronic illnesses, it improves digestion, can help with sleep, improves energy levels, and just helps you feel better overall
- A sense of achievement: when it feels like I have no control over what’s happening in my life, it helps to know that I can set a goal and achieve it, even if it’s just stepping out the door at the end of a day to run a couple kilometers.
- Making friends: recreational sports and running/walking groups are a great, low pressure way to make new friends. As someone who isn’t always awesome at small talk, I love meeting people while running, because it never feels awkward if no one is talking, since you’re probably just working too hard. But, when the conversation flows while running, it seems like anything goes and once you’ve learned someone’s life story in a single run, you have a friend for life.
- Strength: Personally, I hate taking multiple trips with groceries from my car, so one of the awesome benefits of resistance training is that I can usually get it all in one. I know it’s small, but when you think of all those little tasks that speed up with a little more strength, suddenly your day is a lot smoother.
- Thinking time (or "absence of thinking" time): I got hooked on running because I could think out all the random stuff floating through my head, until I got so tired that I couldn’t think at all anymore. Usually, I’d come up with new insight on these runs, but sometimes it was just nice to get to the point where I was forced to take a break from the mental chatter.
- Going somewhere green: Hiking, biking, and running are great ways to explore new areas and get out of the concrete jungle. It’s an easy way to get out in nature and let it take away life’s problems.
- Anything that keeps you moving: these are my personal reasons, but there are so many other motivations for people. Maybe you want to have the energy to keep up with your kids, check something off your bucket list (like a triathlon, marathon, or obstacle race), or no longer feel short of breath at the top of the stairs. Find something that works, because once you start working out, you’re going to realize there are a hundred other reasons to keep doing it.
RSS Feed