Why do you work out?

Why do you work out?  This is a valid question, especially since so many people struggle with getting up and getting active!  There are some general reasons that most people would list as to why they work out; mainly in regard to maintaining the health they currently have, or achieving a particular health goal.  I believe, however, that working out is an intensely personal endeavor, and must have a personal motivation to match.  You are probably the only person who understands what will perfectly motivate you and keep you on course to make exercise a lifetime achievement.

When you exercise without personal motivation, you have nothing that will make you “stay the course.”  Exercise isn’t just for the purpose of losing ten more pounds, or improving your 40yd sprint time; if your only motivation is performance, I’ve got news for you!  You won’t keep going forward once you’ve met your goal – I mean, why do you need to?  Your motivation was merely for better performance or to look a little bit better in that swimsuit; these types of goals will only carry you so far.

Motivation goes deeper than performance or appearance; you have to truly believe that what you’re doing has a point for the long haul or you won’t keep doing it.  Think about it – why do you continue to work a particular job? Why do you maintain good friendships?  Because there is something that intrinsically motivates you to keep doing these things whether or not a goal has been met in these areas.  They have purpose and meaning that you assign them.  Take some time to think about why you want to be healthy and how exercise can help you maintain or achieve health.  Think about what will motivate YOU to keep a work out schedule no matter what…something more powerful than excuses or easy outs that interfere with your commitment to health.

Perhaps sharing my reasons for exercise will help you identify your own.  So why do I work out?  I work out because I only have one body, and want to maintain it as best I know how – I don’t want to be someone who puts more time, money, and upkeep into my possessions than my body.  I want to be able to enjoy life and love with my family and not be hindered because I’ve made poor choices in regard to my health.  I want to go hiking just because I feel like it, when I feel like it, without having to consider how much more active I need to be to “make it through” a hike without keeling over!  I work out so I can go Salsa dancing and two-stepping with confidence that I won’t be exhausted after an hour of dancing.  But most of all, I exercise because it is some of the best quality time I get with my husband where we set goals together and help each other meet them; we have learned how to encourage and push each other in just the right way to help one another achieve ALL our goals.  Those things are very motivating for me and help me push through the days when I don’t really feel like working out.

So…why do YOU work out?  What makes exercise “worth it” to you?