Why do You Exercise?
What Is Your WHY for working out?
“I don’t like working out”
“I would workout, but I never have time.”
“I would workout, but I hate running on the treadmill.”
“I would workout, but I get bored easily and I never know what to do at the gym.”
Sound familiar?
If this sounds like you, I encourage you to redefine your “Why” for moving your body each day. Now before diving into some of the benefits of working out or my WHY, ask yourself these questions:
When I workout, am I only doing cardio because I believe that is the quickest way to burn calories?
Do I enjoy the workouts I do when I do find time to workout?
What in my current routine is the biggest obstacle stopping me from being able to find time to move my body?
Do I find myself thinking, “I don’t have an hour to workout so it’s not even worth it.”?
If you find yourself falling victim to any of these misconceptions about working out, you probably need to redefine your WHY for moving your body.
Why Do I Workout?
6 Reasons I workout that have nothing to do with burning calories
1.Mental Health
Although there are many physical benefits to exercise, the number one reason I move my body is for mental health. The science doesn’t lie- endorphins make you happy. Some research shows that endorphin release occurs in our brains after 20-30 minutes of movement. Not only do endorphins make you happy, but they also help manage the stress response in your body. When we exercise, endorphins, dopamine and adrenaline are all released which are all associated with feeling happy, confident, lowering stress and lowering physical pain. I know on mornings when I really don’t want to get out of bed, just moving on my mat for 20 minutes, taking a quick walk outside, or riding the peloton for 20 minutes instantly boost my mood. The hardest part is starting, but knowing the benefits it can have on my mental health is enough motivation for me!
2. Improved Sleep
Have you ever been EXHAUSTED during the day and then as soon as it hits 10pm you are wide awake?? Me too. Scientists have recently discovered this as the “second wind phenomenon”. At around this time of night, if you are still awake from the day, your mental activity increases and melatonin production is slowed down. This is because due to sleep deprivation, your body is going into a fight or flight response. Exercise, however, has been shown to lower the chances of getting a “second wind”. But BE CAREFUL! Studies have also shown that working out in the evening can be the cause of this “second wind.”
Although research has not been able to prove how sleep and exercise are related, they do know that exercise increases the amount of slow waves during sleep (or deep sleep). They also know that exercise has a direct effect on circadian rhythm. I encourage my clients to listen to their bodies and pay attention to how they are feeling when it comes to sleep and exercise routines. If they find that exercising too late in the day keeps them awake at night, it may be time to try a morning working. On the other hand, if working out at night puts you right to sleep, then stick to it if that is what works best for you! While different sleep and exercise schedules may work better for each person, getting some energy out and moving your body will help you get that much needed shut eye! I know for me, a work out first thing in the morning helps me wake up, go to bed at the same time every night and sleep through the night.
3. To know I can do hard things and push myself
Although this may not be for everyone, I am definitely a morning workout person. Don’t get me wrong, there are some days when that 5:45am alarm goes off and the last thing I want to do is head out into the 30 degrees dark morning to workout. I do this though because it starts my day off on the right foot. After completing a 30-45min workout, I have set myself up to know that I can handle challenges I come across throughout the day. Keeping this promise to myself each morning reminds me that I can do whatever I put my mind to even if it is uncomfortable or difficult.
4. To Feel Strong
I am talking to all of you chronic treadmill runners out there. I am talking to you because I used to be you. In college, if we had spring break or a sorority formal coming up, I would spend one or two hours on the treadmill every day leading up to that event. Not only did this make me feel weak and exhausted, it just made me hungrier. If you find yourself running on the treadmill or outside every day, but not seeing the results you want, you might actually be making it harder for your body to regulate cortisol and build muscle. Not to mention, if you don’t like running, don’t run!
One change I made to my workout routine that has really impacted my WHY for working out is adding in weight training. Now I am not saying that you need to stop going to spin class and join a weight lifting gym, but adding in some strength training two or three times a week will make you feel stronger mentally and physically. With proper form, weight lifting strengthens your bones and joints, reduces risk of injury, increases metabolism and improves heart health. It will also allow you to see progress in weight progressions, repetition, endurance and body composition. This can be low impact, body weight, or heavy weight/low rep workouts. Strength training helps your body to build muscle causing an “after burn” effect where your body is burning calories long after your workout is over. Having a variety of a few days a week of strength training and a few days of cardio allows my body to recover well, keeps my mind active and gives me flexibility to change up my routine based on how I am feeling. Transitioning to this type of workout after years of strictly cardio was not an easy feat, but I am so glad I did!
5. To Feel Confident
While this may sound counterintuitive to the reasons above, hear me out. I don’t just mean confident in a swimsuit or in my clothes. I move my body everyday, whether it is a neighborhood walk, ride on the peloton, heavy weightlifting or 20 minute yoga flow because all of these movements allow me to connect body to mind and mind to body. As an IIN health coach, I believe that the physical aspects of the body are greatly impacted by the state of mind in which we live. I can feel confident in my body because I honor it and love it by moving it. I can feel confident in and proud of my body’s ability to move, keep me in homeostasis, and protect me. If you are someone who has used exercise as a form of punishment for eating something you categorize as bad or say that you workout so you can eat everything you want, you need to reevaluate you WHY for working out. Moving our bodies can release emotional tension, allow us to feel connected to ourselves, and is ultimately a way to show yourself some love. Now THAT is a confidence builder!
6. Longevity
Not only is exercise beneficial for your mental and physical health, it can also help us live longer! While this may not be top of mind when you head out for your 6am workout or you just don’t feel like it today, having an overall active lifestyle can help you to have a long healthy life. Studies have shown that consistent exercise over a lifetime can reduce cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, lowers free radicals in the body that increase risk of some cancers, and reduces the risk of brain degenerating illnesses such as alzheimers and dementia. Taking 20-30 minutes to get some movement into your day can have numerous benefits on your health in the long run!
I hope this post motivated and inspired you to get out there and move your body in a way that makes you feel good today! If this resonated with you and you are having trouble determining your WHY for exercising, can’t stick to an exercise routine, or don’t even know where to begin to start one, check out my Health Coaching programs and sign up for a free consultation today!
