YOU NEED EXERCISE FOR A BETTER SHAPE & HEALTH

Six Reasons Why You Need Exercise

Everyone yearning for longevity of life should strive for a better shape. Regardless of your weight or BMI (body mass index), exercise is the most important thing you can do for your body besides nutrients.

Contrary to popular belief, exercise is not just about losing weight. If it was, those with proper BMI would not need to exercise.

I want to hammer home the point that diet and exercise are not the ends in and of themselves. They’re just means to an end.

The end goal for every normal human being is to survive and thrive as long as possible.

Regular exercise helps you move towards the goal because it:

1. Strengthens your heart and helps blood flow.
2. Helps you relax by releasing tension in your brain and muscles.
3. Enhances better intake and flow of oxygen in your body.
4. Improves endurance to strenuous activities.
5. Helps in physical attractiveness – this is no joke!
6. And, yes, it can help you lose weight.

This list can get longer, and into the nitty gritty. You can add as many reasons or motivations as you want.

If and when you decide to exercise, make sure you have as many reasons as possible. That way, if you get to a point where you can’t continue for one reason, you’re still motivated by another.

Data from CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that less than a quarter of adults in the U.S. get the right amount of exercise.

While I don’t have any data, I have a hunch that probably 100 percent of the conscious population have tried to get in a better shape at one point or another. I say “conscious” because I’m not including kids or other people who don’t know any better.

Six Reasons Why You’re Not as Fit as You need to Be.

My hunch also tells me these are the reasons why you’re not in the shape you need or want.  Feel free to add your own.

Note: Dig deep and don’t lie to yourself.

1. You’re Not Exactly Sure Why You Need Exercise

Maybe you went to a social gathering and met this great looking guy or girl. You wanted to approach and introduce yourself but you thought you were too flabby for them. When you got home, you decided to hit the gym or the trail for when you meet next time.

The next time you meet you discover, to your disappointment, that person is taken. But let’s even say things work out as you planned – good for you – you got a better shape and your prize!

Then after some time, you realize you’re not right for each other for reasons other than your breath-takingly fine shapes. And next time, in the middle of getting your workout gear, it hits you. You stop and ask: What’s the point?

And next time, in the middle of getting your workout gear, it hits you. You stop and ask: What’s the point?

2. You did not achieve your goal fast enough.

…You’ve probably been advised to never fall for a get rich quick scheme. If I could only name one thing that’s worse, it would be a get a ‘better shape’ quick scheme. Why is it worse, you ask? Well, for starters, I’ve heard people winning lottery or betting on a stock and got rich overnight.

You’ve got to be careful who you listen to. We all get bombarded with all kinds of schemes.

We’re told things like, “My plan helps you lose 30 pounds in 30 days! … I can help you flatten your belly in one week!” …and other outrageous claims.

The thing is, people who fall for these get shape quick schemes are not dumb. At the least, they’re smart and proactive enough to recognize the need for better shape. On the other hand, those luring you with all kinds of elixirs are not dumb either.

They’re probably just one step ahead of you. That’s because know you’re desperate. They’ve probably been to a psychology class and understand a desperate mind can rationalize anything.

The truth is, there are workable plans to getting in better shape. But you must be willing to do more research to find quality information. If you want good shape, you have to work for it. Thus, you have to be ready to make sacrifices and be very disciplined.

3. You got injured.

Unfortunately, humans are some of the most fragile and least agile creatures.

A fine body shape is like a finely cooked meal. Just as you can only cook your meal so fast before burning it, you can only strain your body so far so quick before breaking it.

A lot of times, the order matters. Just like you must prepare the food in the proper order, so must you prepare your body. You can’t sprint before you warm up, or lift 50 pounds of weight before you know you can lift 20 pounds. That being said, injuries can happen for different reasons.

Maybe the best way to describe injury is to paraphrase one of my favorite movie lines:

Forrest Gump: Shit happens!

As you know, survival is the recurring theme for this site. And the key determinant to your survival is your ability to deal with shit when it happens.

One thing you can’t do is to sit around because you’re afraid of injury. But heck, people get hurt while sleeping. Injuries come, injuries go, some heal quickly, and others linger longer, yet some are chronic.

While some things are out of your control, a lot of times, what happens to your injury depends on your own actions.

There is a section on this site on different types of injuries and how to deal with them.

4. You got burned out.

With or without injury, burn-out is a real shape killer.

When a marathon runner stands behind the start line, ready for the gun, he or she may be having many thoughts. But there is one thing that overshadows everything else – 26 miles.

There are two strategies to running a marathon. On one hand, you can begin by sprinting and risk early burnout. On the other hand, you can pace yourself at the start and finish by sprinting. A smart marathon runner should always choose the latter strategy as it tends to have better outcome.

Whatever exercise routine you start, think long term and don’t get excited. Else, you will burn out. 

5. You didn’t make the team.

So, your Mom or Dad promised you a new car if you get in the team next Fall. Then you burst your butt the whole summer trying to get in shape.

Then come Fall and the first day of tryouts, and the coach bursts your bubble. He advises you to keep working hard and try out next year. But as he says that, the picture you’ve had all Summer of you in that car dissipates and fades out of your head.

And then you decide No team, no car, no problem. You fade out of shape.

The point here is not about the car. It’s about you setting a goal based on the wrong premise.

If you take the time to understand the reason you need a better shape, it wouldn’t matter whether you’re in a sports team or your BMI is perfect.

6. You’re over-complicating things.

If you find yourself, not planning a workout routine, but planning to plan, you may be over-complicating things. Some people call it procrastination – but, what’s in a name?

Let’s be honest, we all fear failure, to some degree. You don’t want to fail, so your plan has to be perfect.

You find yourself in a loop year in year out – maybe you keep planning on how to leave work early; planning on joining the perfect gym for the perfect budget; or planning on getting a babysitter for your kids; planning on sacrificing hangouts, or friendships altogether.

Add your own plans before the plan here…

Yes, You Need Exercise, But Not Gym Membership

Let me talk about what probably bothers me the most – the gym question.

If you have the wherewithal to join the gym, do it by all means. But you’ve got to stop planning and do it already.

The reality is, gym is not for everyone, nor is it necessary for a better shape.

There are plenty of reasons why it may not a good fit for you. To name a few:

• You spend money on membership.
• Driving back and forth in all the traffic takes a lot of time.
• You have to find a babysitter to work out, etc.

Here are a few exercises you can do without a gym:

Yoga
Jogging
Walking
Sit-ups
Squats
Toe Taps
Push-ups,
Skipping rope
Pull-ups
Stretching
Plank Walks
Jumping Jacks
Sit-throughs
Mountain Climbers
Burpee, etc.

This Holistic Approach Will Help You Achieve Optimum Health, Mindfulness, And Spiritual Enlightenment.

We discuss these and many more exercises in detail in other articles.

Further reading:

7 Functional Fitness Exercises for Beginners