Why do you work out? Why does anyone work out?

Most people will tell you it’s a “stress-reliever” and then add in “oh, and to lose weight as well.”

If someone were to say, “I work out to look hot and have a six pack,” most people would consider that person an arrogant jerk. I would consider them honest.

Why is it that most people nowadays have a problem with an honest answer like “I want to work out to be attractive.” People are ashamed to say the truth so they say they would like to “be healthy” and “working out helps them relieve stress.” Working out might relieve you a lot of stress but there is always a deeper reason why people to work out. Some reasons are very superficial and looked down upon, I’m here to call all of you out on that.

Come on, we all want to be attractive. Raise your hand if you have ever wanted to be attractive in your life. Now, raise your hand if you go to the gym to change how you look. See, you’re just as arrogant as I thought you were and you’ll defend that arrogance with “of course, I want to look good, who doesn’t?”

Ok, so just say that first, instead of trying to look less like a jerk and saying you work out to be healthy. If you have ever been asked why you work out or what you are working out for and say crop out lines such as “to be healthier” or “to destress from life,” I’m going to call you a liar because while those two objectives might be another reason why you work out, it certainly wasn’t the first and primary reason.

Illnesses aside, like diabetes, for example, people work out for shameful reasons or at least shameful reasons society has made us become ashamed to say. My problem with that is simple. You aren’t being truthful to yourself. Rather than just giving someone a false piece of information you think that person might want to hear for them to view you as humble, when in fact, you have no idea what they are thinking of you, why not just be honest from the start? Let that person who seems too sensitive be exactly that and just focus on yourself.

Too many times, I’ve asked this question to people and have received the usual answers I mentioned above. Let’s break it down; to be healthier means you have an idea of what is making you unhealthy and certain body parts or organs which need to be healthier. This leads me to believe you could be more specific when describing your goals to anyone, including a trainer.

You could say you want more definition in your arms or have your cholesterol lowered, but does giving more descriptive answers make you look bad? No, it makes you an honest person. A person shouldn’t be ashamed to say they want defined arms or abdominal muscles. Don’t change your answer because you think it is what others want to hear. Telling the truth doesn’t make you a bad person. Sometimes, being conceited might play to your advantage especially when it comes to working out.

Destressing is great but working out isn’t exactly a stroll in the park. When people say destress, they usually follow up with needing to get away from life’s daily struggle and “zone out.” If you totally “zone out” when you work out, you could get really hurt and if you are zoning out, are you really focused on your workouts? I don’t think so. To zone out means you are totally at relaxation and that is exactly what working out isn’t: relaxation. Working out is pushing your body past its usual limitations and trying to transform yourself in a better version of you.

If you want to relax, go to the beach because literally sitting in the sand is the exact definition of “doing nothing.” If you zone out of a workout, you miss great chances to make yourself stronger or leaner by simply becoming apathetic to the whole process.

When someone tells me, I work out to look good, I applaud their honesty and you should too. Hey, it might be arrogant, but it isn’t a lie and that’s a big step. They are comfortable with both themselves and you to not give you a plate of bull and maybe, you could respect them for it, rather than look down upon them.

Why do you work out? It’s ok to be selfish when it comes to directly affecting you and only you. When you work out, you are working on yourself so being a little self-centered is ok. That’s the whole idea, right?

Stop worrying what answers are acceptable and start telling the truth because chances are, you will be asked this question at least once, if not more.

I’ll leave you with this: I’ll ask myself that same question. I work out to be in shape. I work out now to be able to take my shirt off and still have a stomach to be proud of. I like how much muscle I’ve gained over the years and would like to keep that strength in the long run.

Wow, that felt great for me to be honest.

Your turn…