Why I Exercise? It’s not why you think
When I say exercise or diet to someone everyone always thinks I am talking about losing weight. Sometimes I am, but sometimes I am talking about mindset, habits, feeling healthy…..etc. A lot of people don’t like to exercise because they connect it with sore muscles, it’s hard, sweating, it’s not fun, it feels like work, something you HAVE to do…..etc.
Is that how you feel about exercise?
If that is how you feel about exercise then you need to change your mindset around exercise. Exercise is more then a tool for weight loss. Exercise helps you relieve stress and anxiety. It can help you control or reduce heart disease, lung disease and lots of other lifestyle diseases. If you want to live a healthy life you need to incorporate exercise into your lifestyle.
Why do I exercise? I exercise for me. I exercise because I know it makes me feel good. When I am done I have a sense of accomplishment, I can cross something off my to-do list. I also feel less stressed and less anxious. My family definitely knows this!!! When we are on a vacation and if I start to get crabby a few days in-they tell me-go workout! I exercise because I want to be strong. I exercise because I want to live a long life but I want to be strong and healthy not frail and feebly.
What can you do if you don’t like to exercise? Re-frame your mindset around exercise. As you can see, I didn’t list off weight loss or being skinny in reasons why I exercise. Find a form of exercise you like to do. If you like to walk start there. Do you like to dance, swim, do you like being with others (maybe group classes would be good for you). Once you get in the habit of exercising then pick something else to try. Try lifting weights, yoga or a group class. Stick with the new thing for a while (it took me 1 year of doing yoga, weekly, before I started to like it) and maybe you will find a new exercise you like!
Exercise has so many benefits to your mind, body and spirit. Think of it as a helpful tool not a hurtful tool.
If you are looking for more ways to live a healthy+happy life reach out to me at ptwithlisa@gmail.com or www.lisaholtan.com