You know how people say the way to finding a job you will never get tired of is to find an occupation where you feel like you've never worked a day in your life? Well the same can be said for exercise. I am not an expert on physical health, but I am a college kid who has often struggled with motivating myself to be fit. The thing is, fitness is an essential part of a healthy, long life. No matter how you slice it, science has proven fit people are happier, quicker thinkers, and live longer. So why is there this stigma with fitness?
I don’t have time. It hurts too much. I can’t afford a gym membership.
These are just some of the reasons I’ve heard why people don’t workout out. But these reasons are really excuses. As a wise acquaintance once told me, excuses are like buttholes; they stink and everyone has them. Well folks, I got a secret on how I’ve managed to motivate myself to be fit for the rest of my life and enjoy doing it. It may seem obvious, but the way to one's optimal relationship with their bodies is different. Not everyone's a runner or a vegan or does cross fit. As an unique individual you have to think of three things:
1. What do I like to do?
2. Where do I like to do it?
3. Why am I doing it?
You don’t necessarily have to go to a gym or do a workout routine to workout. Sometimes the best way to get your body moving is to go inside or outside with your friends and family and just do activities that raise your heart rate. These activities could be anything like swimming in a pool, a game of tag, hiking, paddle boarding, roller skating, dancing (you get the idea). This way of working out, without a planned out circuit, may be good for people who don’t like routine or rigidity. For people who like to plan out their days a circuited gym routine or at home workout may work better.
For busy people who don’t have a lot of time to spare or to go to the gym, HIIT training is a great solution. High Intensity Interval Training combines fast paced body weight and weight training reps in short, intense spurts of time with the specific workout move changing every interval. This interval can range from 20 to 50 seconds and will keep your metabolism burning up to 24 hours after working out unlike a low impact cardio like steady paced running which only elevates your metabolism for about an hour. If you start thinking about exercise as just a fun way of releasing endorphins, moving your body, hanging out with loved ones and feeling good mentally, emotionally and physically -- it’ll be easier to actually workout in the first place.
You can’t change the way fat is metabolized or burned but you can change the way you think about exercise. If you don’t associate exercise with the typical negative connotations that all of those previously mentioned excuses were based on, you’re on your way to a healthier, happier relationship with your body. Regarding the three questions I mentioned before, number one and two are pretty self explanatory. Find an activity you love and find out if you're a solitary or social exerciser this way you can get your blood pumping in a fun way in a comfortable setting for you. But, number three is especially important to me because it is important to think about and know why you want to get fit.
I want to look like a Kardashian or a Hemsworth. I want to look like those Tumblr girls or guys.
If these are your reasons, not to say they’re wrong, but these are not necessarily the healthiest or most concrete motivators. If the only reason you want to be fit is to look good, this may not be enough of a reason to get that blood pumping because it’s easy to give up and just say:
What’s the point of working out, I’ll never look that model. I’m not build like that. I don’t have those kind of genes.
The thing is, you shouldn’t strive to look a certain way or look like a certain person because there will always be someone you think is better than you or prettier than you or fitter than you. You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror and realize you are beautiful. There is no one kind of beautiful and there is no right way of looking. Each and every one of you on this earth is beautiful, unique and should strive to be, not the best looking you can be, but the best you you can be. I know this is easier said than done because we are constantly bombarded with media plastering a type cast of beauty. But media is not an accurate depiction of the population nor is it the only or “right” way of depicting beauty. The path to fitness without the pre-sweat depression and reluctance is paved with acceptance of one’s body and self love. Nothing in this life is handed to us and the things most worth our time are worth fighting for. This is no different for exercise. Think of that workout sesh as a gift to your soul, mind, and body rather than a chore. You are not only strengthening every part of your body when you get moving, you strengthen your mental will, and fill your aura with empowering, positive energy.
Besides, a little sweat never hurt nobody. Until next time my fellow olympians, enjoy your summer (a.k.a get off that couch and go outside)!
