As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve never written about exercise here on Simplicity Relished. Not only am I no expert on the subject, but it’s been a huge challenge for me for years. Sure, I played a few sports growing up and even dabbled in marshall arts; you might know that I spent about 12 years dancing before I quit (mostly because I liked ballet costumes). But regular cardio and muscle toning? Not this girl.
Another challenge I’ve had when it comes to exercise is that so much of the motivation out there has to do with body image.
Tighten your butt! Tone those arms! Get a bikini bod! Flatten your belly! And on and on.
There’s no real issue with wanting to look your best, but that type of motivation has never worked for me. That’s partly because I know that bodies are created differently, and most people will never look like fashion models or P90X experts, no matter how hard they work or how little they eat.
It seems like an unfair way to motivate oneself.
Furthermore, I don’t want my appearance to be the only reason why I exercise. To be honest, I’ve inherited a decent metabolism, and have rarely found myself restricting my food intake in order to maintain a physique. This is, in part, why I’ve always been a couch potato. I don’t need to work out in order to fit into my jeans. Then again, I hardly ever eat junk food, so that’s probably a part of it.
Still, as I look into 2015, I know I want to make exercise a regular routine. And I know that I don’t want to buy into the whole counting-calories weight-loss-goal type of regimen. (Meanwhile I know that weightloss is very important for some people and I don’t mean to discount that.)
But IÂ know that there are many more benefits to exercising than losing weight. So here are a few:
1) For my mental health.
This is huge for me. I am an anxious person and I let off steam, sometimes, in unhealthy ways. I’m certainly not the first person to say that exercise helps with stress, and there’s enough scientific proof out there to convince us. I’d like to see my stress levels decrease and improve my emotional stability in 2015.
2) To remember that time doesn’t have to fly by.
Have you ever noticed that running for half an hour straight makes that amount of time seem long? Each step, each breath, counts for valuable seconds that would quickly slip away by just one session of email or social media. But time seems to crawl– at least for me– when I exercise. And I somehow like that. I want to be more mindful of the amount of time I spend on various activities by spending those chunks of time exercising.
3) For my future and my family.
Just as we save money for our future (and for our families), exercise is another type of investment. Women especially are in danger of osteoporosis among other things, and exercise has shown to help with that. Taking care of my body by getting enough sleep and eating well has never been hard for me; getting myself to move, however, has been much harder. But lately, I have realized that I want to maintain my health for as long as I possibly can– as a wife and aspiring mother– and that needs to start today.
4) To practice discipline.
I’ve always loved doing things I’m good at– who doesn’t? But exercise is something that I’m neither good at, nor enjoy. Discipline is such an important practice though, whether it means working out regularly or upholding the commitments we make. Discipline sometimes means doing things we don’t like, but choose to do anyway. I hope to practice more discipline in 2015.
5) For my adventurous spirit.
As you might know, I love to travel. And we all know that the better shape you’re in, the more you’ll be able to explore. Some of my dream travels have been to bike through the French countryside; hike through the Himalayas; kayak along the California coast; and so much more. I’ll need a stronger body to do all those things.
So I’m curious, what forms of exercise do you enjoy most? What are your tips for someone just starting out? Do you enjoy exercise? I’d love to know!
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Walking and yoga are great– and to be honest it’s more than I normally do now so I’m working to increase intensity too! And I agree that so many images online don’t give us good reasons to exercise; if our only goal is to look like someone else, we’ll probably fail!
Wonderful reasons, Daisy! I love that for you it’s not about body imagine. While I love Pinterest, I often see pins on there that degrade women that aren’t physically fit in certain areas or aren’t underweight. I actually love exercise, however I’m supposed to abstain until I’m further along in healing my illness. In the past I found it best to start gently, with walking and yoga, and then slowly add more intensity.
I hope you do exercise more, Robin! Let’s keep each other accountable– I’ve heard it works wonders with anxiousness and I need it too!
Aw I’m so glad we’re on the same boat, Sarah! I’m not trying to be the skinniest person ever… but I do want to live a long and healthy life and go on lots of adventures! 🙂
This is so true for me too! I have never need to exercise for weight, so unfortunately, I don’t do it very much. But in 2014 my anxiety increased a lot, and exercise is one of the best ways to bring it down. Hopefully it helps me this year. 🙂
I’m so glad you did a post on this! I HATE exercising but I have made a conscious effort to make it a large part of my lifestyle. People think I’m crazy but it’s for many of the same reasons that you stated. You just feel better and it’s good to be HEALTHY not necessarily the skinniest on earth. Trust me, french fries are still a large part of my diet haha.
Thanks for telling the truth about many exercisers! It’s a GOOD thing to exercise.
– Sarah 🙂
http://www.thecrownbijoux.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Kristen! I’m glad you enjoyed this. And yes to discipline; it’s so easy for me to just stick to things that I enjoy and do well already. It’s hard to learn something new that’s difficult, but you’re right– God calls us to such things too!
So glad to hear that Tiffany! I love hiking and heading to the ocean too! I’m hoping to try something more rigorous though, so I can do even more intense exploring. Happy New Year, friend!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this 🙂
Ah thank you Kerrie. And thanks for sharing about that struggle. Exercise is too often intertwined with how we look, and not enough with other life-things that are so important! I’m still trying to figure out the best way to exercise (for me, personally) where I’m not just telling myself it’s about toning a certain area or losing half an inch around my waist.
Power walking is the best!!
I’m so thankful for an exercise post that isn’t already assuming that I’m in love with the idea. I dread it. I, too have a pretty good metabolism and can very easily talk myself out of doing anything sweat related. I also want to focus on getting in better shape. And all the reasons you mentioned are excellent ones! Thanks for posting! And we need to remember that God gives us a spirit of self-discipline. I need to embrace that truth and tap into it this coming year!
Thank you for this!! Wow, it really spoke to me, as I’ve been the type where I do not “have” to go to the gym all the time. I’ve always liked going on walks along the ocean bluffs, short hikes, and even just getting out to the beach which leads me to roam and get moving. I certainly want to take advantage of working out for the mental aspect as well. Thank you!
Xx, Tiffany | http://www.sunshinedaydreamphotography.com
these are always good reasons to remember, thanks for reminding me!!
Absolutely LOVE this post girl. I have a really bad relationship with exercise due to an eating disorder I suffered from years ago. This year I’m determined to remind myself that I actually like going to the gym, zoning out with my favorite music and having a little me time. It doesn’t need to be about losing weight and I need to stop pressuring myself to see crazy physical results from it…
K.xo
http://www.rarelytakenseriously.com
Great post, I love power walking
xo
http://www.laurajaneatelier.com
Yes! Discipline is harder than we all realize. Thanks for stopping by, Kelly!
Thank you so much Denise! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived at a new destination and just wanted to sleep… having better stamina to explore new places is so important. Hope you have a lovely New Year’s too!:)
Thank you so much Carli! I’m looking forward to seeing my stress levels go down too 🙂
Thank you so much, Mark!
Thank you so much Gina! So glad we’re on the same page… travel is honestly one of the biggest reasons for me– I don’t like showing up to a brand new place and feeling absolutely wiped out from the start. Happy New Year, friend! 🙂
Thanks so much Anne! Yes, I was realizing that I had zero motivation when magazines were just telling me to shed those extra pounds. I don’t feel great about doing that, usually! But I know there are good reasons to exercise and I hope my motivation will increase because of them. Glad you enjoyed this post! 🙂
I love going on walks too!! And I’ve yet to find a workout class that I love, but I hear that it’s great to have friends and build community there as a form of accountability. I hope you enjoy the last few days of this year, Carmen!
Thanks girl!! All of the effects of exercise are things I need more of in my life… oddly enough, due to stress I tend not to want to add exercise to my list. Thanks so much for sharing those articles, I’ll definitely peruse them 🙂
Ah yes! I’m hoping to try things like Zumba and Barre as alternatives to just running around our neighborhood. I love hearing that you can do it solo and feel so much better afterwards! So glad you enjoyed this post, Kiki.
Thank you so much Brooke! I’m looking forward to putting your workout plans into action!
Thanks girl! Time does crawl, especially when I’m running– haha!
I’ve done yoga off and on, but have been a bit reticent because I know I need a good teacher to avoid hurting myself. I’m definitely going to focus on cardio for now, it’s so so important!
Thanks Amy!
Thanks Lauren 🙂 And oh goodness, I told myself throughout college that I’d work out, but it was always soooo cold outside 😉 haha. At least I had to walk to class… one of my classes was actually a 20+ minute walk away, so that definitely helped! But now I need to be more intentional about moving. Here’s to healthier habits for both of us 🙂
Thanks girl! And that’s so true– everyone needs the cardio and to maintain their physical health, regardless of how “healthy” we already look!
Thank you Shannon! And yes, time just crawls when I’m running, I don’t know how it’s possible that minutes go by so slowly. So good to hear that you feel great after working out though, because I really need that 🙂
Thanks girl! haha the couch is where I hang out most of the time too…
Thank you so much Anna! Yes, weightloss is important for some people, but not the only result of exercise– as I’m quickly realizing!
Thanks so much Alyssa! And getting up early is half the battle, or so I hear… 😉 Thank you so much for stopping by!
Thanks girl! And I am expecting some more emotional stability once I start working out more regularly 🙂
So good to know, Charity, thanks for the encouragement! I’ve been interested in yoga for ages, but know that it’s so important to have a good instructor. Thanks for the suggestion!!
Thank you Hannah! There are so many better reasons to exercise than just nice looking arms. The future and family one was really convicting when I came to that realization– I don’t want to be the mom who can’t catch her running toddler or the wife who has no stamina when we’re middle-aged or beyond!
Thank you so much Shireen! And I agree– if I don’t want a bikini body… then does that mean I shouldn’t work out? I always ask myself that when I see another headline from a “health” mag. So glad you enjoy exercising for the mental health benefits– I’m really looking forward to that!
Thank you! I’ll take whatever natural solutions there are to tackle anxiety and stress!
Aw thank you Miriam, I’m glad you enjoyed this. And I’m honestly not really a “team” person, at least when it comes to physical exercise. I am definitely hoping to change that!
Thanks Jenna!! Yes, I’ve always wanted to be one of those people who could trek through a village or rent a bike and explore a whole region, but I’ve never felt in shape enough to do it. One of my goals 🙂
Thank you so much Nabihah! I’ve heard wonderful things about group classes but I’m pretty shy about doing things I’m not good at so I’ve always exercised alone. It sounds like some peer motivation would be helpful– thanks for the recommendations 🙂
Thanks friend! 🙂 I’ve always known that a healthy amount of exercise is good– I just needed to find a new “why”.
That’s what I’ve been telling myself for 10 years… I think I just need to dive in, make all those investments and tell myself it’ll be worth my while! Good luck, friend!
Oh wow, I hope you start up ballet again. That would be so cool!
Thank you Meta! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Practicing discipline is such a good one!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Love all of these reasons! The adventure one is the best for me. I hate traveling and feeling wiped after a long day, climb, hike, or whatever it may be. While I do exercise, sometimes I feel like it isn’t enough. I love the reasons you have given here. Have a wonderful New Year and I hope you are enjoying your trip!
Denise
http://www.fashionloveletters.com
These are great reasons to exercise that have nothing to do with losing weight. exercise definitely does help me with stress too!
xo, carli
http://www.puppiesandpolkadots.com
those are great reasons to exercise! keep at it and be happy about it! 🙂
This is wonderful, Daisy!! I love working out, but I wish I do it more often. It seems like we have similar metabolisms and reasons for why we like to workout. A lot of times people think exercising is to lose weight, but there is so much more to that! Thanks so much for talking about this! I hope you have a happy New Year!
Yes, yes, yes! Love this. The focus is always on weight and the scale. So nice to see a much healthier perspective for once! Thank you!!!!
I’m terrible at working out, but as you said, there’s more to it than just having abs. I like your thinking about a future family & travel. Working out, stretching, & exercise will help us all be able to better function over time. I really love going on walks or a FUN workout class. Have a fantastic rest of 2014, Daisy. :] // â–² itsCarmen.com â–²
I love this article! This has been on my mind for a while now too. I am always struggling to fit in time and run and it is one of my top priorities for 2015 — not to lose weight or keep it off (I’m also blessed with a good metabolism although with 30 facing me down I’ve cut out bread and grains to keep myself at a weight I’m comfortable with) but to keep my body healthy, cut back on stress, keep my blood pressure at a good level, boost strength and energy. Also there’s this: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/how-exercise-may-keep-alzheimers-at-bay/?_r=0
and this: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/how-exercise-can-strengthen-the-brain/
I’ve really been enjoying doing barre workouts via YouTube. With my crazy life the gym is out of the question, but a few living room exercises make me in such a fantastic mood. I’m annoyingly happy after I work out. So I’m good solo, of course baby P is always close by staring, probably wondering what it is I’m doing. I’m def with you there on the mental health aspect. Like I said before I’m so happy go lucky when I work out. Sadly it’s something I really need to make happen more often than not. Excellent post Daisy. Loved the part about realistic body images. (:
http://www.accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com
Fabulous post Daisy! You are 100% right that with different body types, taking on fitness with a ‘goal body’ in mind tends to let a lot of people down. You have so many fabulous reasons to exercise and the best reasons!
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups
Such great reasons! I need to not dread the time passing slowly, but instead embrace that I am able to do so!
xo Southern Style
Yoga is my favorite form of exercise and I always feel the most refreshed afterwards, but I do try to fit in cardio as well just for the healthy heart benefits.
Great motivation, thanks!
Amy Ann
The Real Arnolds
You’re so right… appearance shouldn’t be the only motivation to work out regularly. The bit about doing it for mental/emotional health has struck me over the past semester, and I think I need to be taking steps to be more active during my remaining time at Penn. Just know you won’t be at it alone!
Love this!! I would always hate when people would say, why do you work out a lot, you’re so skinny! So many reasons and these being the main ones!! I have been slacking though! Need to get back with it!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
I love your take on time/exercising, such a positive way to think about it because time really does move extra slow on that treadmill! Your number one reason is my number one reason, but more for the energy aspect of it. I always feel so energized after a workout and I love that feeling so that is my motivator this year! Good Luck!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
Great tips! I really need to get off the couch more..
Happy holidays!
http://www.theavantguardian.com
This is a great post! So cool to really think about other benefits to exercising than just loosing weight!
These are fantastic reasons that, honestly, I forget about when I think about how much I don’t want to get up early to work out. Thanks for posting this!
Great post for the end of the year. Mental health is my number one reason too! I’ll go bonkers if I don’t work out a few times a week. Hope you had a wonderful holiday!! -xx
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
Sweating on the daily is so important to me for my mental health and energy. There are endless reasons to exercise I’m glad this will be part of your 2015 routine 😉 I mix my program up with yoga and cardio with a little weight training. I go to the gym and practice yoga through yogaglo online. Kathryn Budig is the best teacher on that site if you are interested in exploring yoga…
I love these reasons! I can relate with you on the metabolism factor AND the stress factor!! “Get toned muscles” never motivated me, but you’re right – we must exercise not only for our own stress relief and health, but for our future and our family!
This is a refreshing post on exercise, Daisy. Like you, I’m a little tired of the same old damn thing about exercising to get that hot bod. I have been really lucky to be able to maintain the same weight since my teenage years despite all the food I eat (and I eat a lot!) but I do love going for long walk with hubby and baby to up my stamina and as you put it, mental health. I find that it relaxes me tremendously and helps me to keep calm throughout the day.
Shireen | Reflection of Sanity
Good post. We should all move around more. It’s important to our physical health and, as you note, our mental health. I find it reduces anxiety. I walk and do anything else available to me whenever possible. Good luck with your efforts!
Before continuing to read this post, I tried to come up with 5 non weight reasons to exercise, but I couldn’t. This post really opened my eyes as to why exercise is important other than to loose weight. My favourite way to exercise is through sports-I love them. However I have no confidence to join a team..
This is so encouraging! I actually am one of the weirdos who loves to go to the gym and do cardio and weight training. But I think it’s because of what you said, my motivation is not just to look good! I love being active because I feel so much better, have more confidence, and am ensuring that I will be healthier longer. I love your idea of finding ways to be active while traveling!
Such great reasons – I hate that exercise has become solely about looking good though I admit that is usually motivation for me. I need to see the other benefits in exercise, not just the superficial ones. For the past decade I’ve disliked exercise (despite being very athletic as a child) and so getting a gym membership a couple months back was a huge and difficult step. I’ve realized that my favourite type of exercise is group classes – my favourite ones are kickboxing and resistance training classes which are very hard but very fulfilling. For those starting out, I’d recommend starting slow and doing what you enjoy!
thesundaywardrobe.blogspot.com
This is AWESOME Daisy, you’re so spot on about there needing to be a more holistic motivation than just the aesthetic. Absolutely love this! xx
I used to dance as well and now that I don’t I have a very hard time motivating myself to exercise because I really dislike going to the gym and running. Ha! I keep telling myself that I’ll sign up for some adult dance classes one day soon.
I am terrible when it comes to sports/exercising. I don’t do anything besides walking! I am planning to re-start doing ballet in 2015. ABT and Joffrey Ballet has drop in classes which I think would be perfect for me since I don’t have much of a set schedule!
– Deniz
http://www.dressedupdeniz.com
Excellent post.