Exercise is an absolute must if you want optimal health.Without movement, you will slowly deteriorate.
Yet, millions of humans will do whatever it takes to avoid any type of movement. Even my brother, who is very fit and strong, prefers to drive a car versus walking one mile. Is this really where society is headed? Yes, but I am here to change that.
Why should you exercise? To me, exercising means walking and engaging in bodyweight exercises. It means to play. To have fun. To play tag with adults. To play sports. I guess it means to be a kid again.
There are probably hundreds of reasons why I love to exercise (and why you should too). I’ll present to you 7 in this article. Please leave a comment below stating why you love to exercise.
1. Exercising makes me feel awesome
Every single time I exercise I feel like I am on top of the world. Even when I am just walking. There is something about movement. I enjoy standing, like I am now while writing this article, but I most definitely would prefer to be walking, jogging, sprinting, engaging in bodyweight exercises or playing a sport.
When I sit around all day and do nothing I feel like crap. I don’t want to do anything. I want to remain lazy and stay in all day. Sometimes this can be a beautiful thing.
However, obesity rates are now at 38% in the US which scares the living daylights out of me. We don’t need to run 5 miles a day. We simply need to move more.
2. Exercise trains me to do the impossible
That’s a 2 pound burger and about 2-3 more pounds of fries. I ate it all in 45 minutes. Bam!
Have you ever completed the impossible? Like climb Mt. Everest? Walk across America? I’m not sure I want to climb Mt. Everest but I do want to walk across every single state in America. You’ll learn more about this adventure soon.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to be able to do 100 push-ups at once? What about 50 pull-ups? Maybe you want to dominate the beach volleyball court or throw a frisbee with precision. If you have never come close to doing this and if no one else has done it then you will immediately assume that it’s impossible. It’s humans natural instinct.
Yet we can fly to the moon, land on mars, fly to anywhere in the world, go scuba diving, jump off a plane miles in the air, and more. These things are impossible. Yet humans are doing them daily. I want to be able to do what most think is impossible. What most wish they could do but believe they can’t do because they are not physically fit enough.
It’s all crap. You can do anything you set your mind to. If a blind man can climb Mt. Everest then you can surely do anything you want to as well.
What are you waiting for?
3. Exercise boosts my confidence
Have you been lacking confidence recently? Ask yourself what types of movements you have done recently.
My confidence flies through the rough during and after exercising. Again, this can include a simple quarter of a mile walk, randomly doing 20 squats or push-ups, or sprinting for just 5 seconds. Even standing instead of sitting helps (this is why I am standing while I work 90% of the time).
I push myself but not to the point where I risk injury. I continue to get stronger and more fit overall. Knowing this is huge for my psyche. If I can do 20 straight chin-ups (so close!) then I truly believe I can do anything I set my mind to.
Lacking confidence? Go for a walk! Do a few push-ups!
4. Exercise makes me look good naked
Nutrition is 80% of it they say but that other 20% is very vital. Again, a short walk will do wonders for so many people.
Your biceps won’t grow if you eat a perfect diet but fail to move much. You have to engage in movements that work your biceps. Duh! Go do a few chin-ups. Do you want a strong chest? Drop down and do a few push-ups. The slower you go the more difficult it becomes and thus the more you are working your muscles.
I’m no Mark Sisson or Steve Kamb (2 of my many heroes) but I do look good naked. I’ll always be trying to look better but I will also always accept me for who I am. If I don’t ever get a 6-pack it will mean nothing to me. I’m close so I will fight for it. Time will tell.
On a side note, I absolutely must mention that both men and women look better naked with too much fat compared to not enough fat. Also, this is healthier. I’m not saying weighing 300 pounds is healthy. I think you know what I mean. Right?
Ladies: Begin building muscle NOW and the fat will come off if you have any that your body doesn’t want. Men don’t go after the skinny bitches.
5. I would not mind a 6-pack (no beer, thank you)
Sure, I may be able to only walk and do nothing else while eating very well and get my 6-pack. But, engaging in bodyweight exercises will accelerate the process. I know I have plenty of time (I’m 24 years young!) so I am not at all worried but that does not mean I won’t go for the gold.
6. Exercising is fun, relaxing and rewarding
Do you have as much fun as these kids are when you exercise?
If you are not having fun, feeling relaxed or rewarded while or after exercising, then well, you should consider quitting. Do something else. I sometimes engage in intense crossfit style workouts. This is fun and rewarding.
Walking is the most important exercise and is incredibly relaxing. It’s also rewarding and can be a lot of fun.
If you are running 5 miles a day and are stressed out because you hate it so much then you need to stop. Now. Start engaging in resistant exercises. Start playing like you’re a kid again. You will have a riot and feel rejuvenated. I promise.
7. More exercise means more real food
I’m a foodie. A lover of real, wholesome food. Food that nourishes my body and makes me feel awesome.
The more I exercise, the more calories my body requires. It’s amazing how true this is when the standard weight loss advice is to eat less and exercise more. How about begin moving and eat real food?! (Notice how I did not say more or less for either).
Food may cost money but it is my highest priority. It’s yours too, right? I can’t function how I want to if I don’t nourish my body well. I’ll purchase pastured eggs over eggs from a chicken stuffed in a cage egg any day. Why? More nutrition. I’ll also purchase 100% grass-fed beef over a factory raised cow any day. Why? More nutrition. These decisions go beyond nutrition but it is the main reason.
I also love smoothies. I particularly enjoy them after an intense workout since nutrients are utilized at a more efficient rate. Oh! Did you know that my ebook, Toadally Primal Smoothies, is now FREE? Yup. Click here to check it out!
So, that is my rant about why I love to exercise. Why something as simple as walking and doing a push-up or pull-up can be so beneficial.
Why do YOU love to exercise? What types of exercise do you engage in?
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