Why We Exercise

Perhaps a better title for this post is “Why We Should Exercise,” but I feel as though we get too much of that already. People telling us that we need to be healthier, go to the gym, eat this, not that…  As a trainer, I know that this is largely true. Most Americans are overweight and many are obese. But I’m not sure repeatedly telling people what they should and shouldn’t do is going to change that. Instead I’ll offer some perspective on why I think exercise is important. It’s not to look good in a bikini, show off your chest at the beach, or even to fit into the smaller size you once wore…

Last week, my wife and I attended my familiy reunion. It’s held every two years, usually in one of the five or six major areas on the East Coast where descendents of my great great grandparents now reside. One hundred eighty five people attended this year, taking part in our normal weekend rituals – the cookout, fun and games, the family banquet, and a prayer breakfast. It touched me, as it always does, to see and catch up with so many of my family members, watch the younger ones grow before our eyes, pay tribute to the older generations, and honor those we’ve lost.

As I get older, it becomes clearer to me what is truly important in my life. It’s not the phone call I’m expecting, the next text message, the business appointment, the flight I must catch, the next promotion, or even my career. To me, the most important thing on earth is family…and that is why I exercise.

• I exercise to learn what I can about being healthy and to share that with those I love.
• I exercise to be an example to those close to me, both older and younger.
• I exercise to show that you can still live a full life while making time for your health.
• I exercise to relieve the stresses of daily life so I don’t bring that baggage home.
• I exercise with my wife because it’s quality time together, sharing, helping one another, and bonding.
• I exercise so I can be better prepared to help her and others if the need arises.
• I exercise to be healthier and improve the quality of my physical life because I know it affects the people around me.
• And I exercise so I’ll be around as long as possible to enjoy my extended family, my wife, and our expected child.

Why do we exercise? What motivates you? Why don’t you exercise? Why should you? The tough part isn’t getting up to go to the gym. You can exercise anywhere. It’s not the time commitment – any small amount of exercise is better than nothing at all. The tough part is coming to terms with what’s important to you. Once you do that, you’ll prioritize and make time for your priority and the things that affect it. My earthly priority is my family…again, that’s why I exercise.

Yours in health,

Trainer T.