There is nothing I find more satisfactory than feeling my muscles ache and tingle after a good, hard workout. Putting my headphones in and just taking an hour or two for myself. There is one thing I find frustrating about being a girl and working out, wanting to make a better form of my body. "Why are you working out? You're so small, anyway. A boy should accept the way that your body is and not want you to change it so that is pleases them." First of all, why must my working out be to make myself better for some man? I am not that vain that all I think about are my appearances and trying to get a man. There are many reasons that I workout that have nothing to do with getting a guy.
1. Health benefits (the ones you don't see).
Everyone knows about the visible health benefits of working out: Toned muscles, less body fat, more physical strength, but there are health benefits that cannot be seen from outside the body. Working out strengthens your heart, and that always seems like a good idea, doesn't it? Exercising helps raise good cholesterol and lower unhealthy triglycerides. This keeps your blood flowing smoothly and lowers your risk of cardiovascular diseases. There are a whole slew of other benefits from working out including preventing stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and arthritis.
2. The mental benefits.
A good workout is not only beneficial to your body, but also your mind. Giving yourself just an hour or two a day to not worry about work, school, social and political drama is one of the benefits of working out. Think of it as a vacation for your mind. Regular exercising can help decrease symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression. It also helps improve your overall mood, relieve stress, and help you fall asleep at night.
3. How it makes you look and feel.
Yes, I realize I said I wasn't working out for a man, but that doesn't mean I threw the whole "working out for a nice body" thing right out the window. I workout to make myself feel beautiful. I understand today that society is adamant that every body type is unique and beautiful. Well, I feel beautiful with toned muscles. Some girls wear makeup and people accept that they do it for themselves. Girls don't paint their eyelids gold and contour their cheekbones for guys all the time. They do it because it makes them feel good. I lift weights, run, and row because it makes me feel good and beautiful. Working out has helped me find my confidence and raised my self-esteem. Gaining strength in your body helps you realize all that your body is capable of. You never thought you could run a mile in under 10 minutes; after practicing you soon are there. It's amazing to see what you are capable of with a little hard work. I'm not saying that every girl should strive to be super muscular and buff girls. Every body type is beautiful, so we shouldn't assume that because a girl is working out she is doing it for any reason other than for herself.
4. Scheduling and goal setting.
Sounds weird, doesn't it? How does working out improve your time management and goal-setting skills? Setting goals for yourself is a good way to keep yourself motivated and it will help you learn to set goals in other aspects of your life. You will learn how to mange your time and how to set realistic goals that you can work towards. Getting yourself on a routine will help you get ready for the day and help you plan other things going on in your busy life. These are valuable skills that will help you outside the gym. Learning what you are capable of by helping reaching small goals you set will help you gain confidence in yourself.
5. Inspiring other healthy habits.
Once you set goals and start seeing what you are capable of, you wouldn't want all your hard work to go to waste, would you? Some other bad habits will start to diminish once you pick up one good one. As a college student I understand that people go out and party and drink. However, binge drinking has negative effects on your workout progress. Unwanted weight gain is one of the effects of a night drinking. Drinking also causes your kidneys and liver to work overtime, this means that you will tire out faster during your workout and binge drinking can also lead to poor muscle growth and dehydration. Other bad habits such as smoking will negatively effect your workout progress. Smoking also decreases your body's ability to keep up with your workout; it affects your lungs and heart. Two vital organs for working out. After you quit smoking you will feel better lung function which will in turn lead to more oxygen in your blood, letting you workout longer and harder without tiring. Quitting smoking will also take stress off your heart, letting it pump stronger while you work out. Seeing progress you make with your body will inspire healthier habits, so that you can keep up your progress.
So, next time someone tells you that you need to stop working out to please a man, remember there are more reasons to work out other than to be pleasing to someone's eye. Do it for you and your health and your inner beauty will show through how you feel.
