Name your other reason for working out? (beside looking good

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Replies

  • knittnponder
    knittnponder Posts: 1,953 Member
    Actually, to look good is probably much lower down the list for me! I want to FEEL good and I do when I'm working out. It helps me manage my anxiety, keeps my muscles from aching and feeling stiff. I also LOVE to feel strong! The stronger I get, the better I feel! I also do Taekwondo and love it. I can't believe how much I enjoy doing TKD! Other forms of exercise tend to be geared toward making me fitter and stronger for TKD (it's the whole reason I decided to do P90X). But I also enjoy the actual exercise for the most part. I love to go bicycling and weight lifting makes me feel awesome!
  • Panda_Jack
    Panda_Jack Posts: 829 Member
    I want to be faster than that other guys in my AG so I can crush their hopes and dreams of getting on the podium.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Sport/leisure, personal challenge, general health and well being
  • tigerlilly9577
    tigerlilly9577 Posts: 29
    Consistently working out lets me sleep better - no more insomnia!
  • kittyhorn
    kittyhorn Posts: 112 Member
    I'm going through a particularily messy separation/divorce and working out helps me work through my anger and sadness. The other day I almost stayed in bed all night but my friend got me up and to my kickboxing class....it was the best thing for me!
  • joejccva71
    joejccva71 Posts: 2,985 Member
    Can I quote Manu?

    "I don't train to win contests.
    I don't train to look pretty.
    I don't train to make friends.
    I don't train to look at some chick's *kitten*.
    I train and train very hard because it's painful, it's uncomfortable, it's demanding. I like that. Time to bleed."

    -Manu
  • anubis609
    anubis609 Posts: 3,966 Member
    Because I can.
  • BeeElMarvin
    BeeElMarvin Posts: 2,086 Member
    My health. In the last 4 months, my A1c (blood sugar level) has dropped from 8.3 to 5.3 and my triglycerides level has dropped from 361 (not a typo) to 89. When the nurse took my blood pressure she asked me, "is your bp always this low? - low is good!" My answer was ummm, no, it was pretty out of control. reason enough for me. Think I'll go work out!
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    I'll be real here. I workout for a variety of reasons. Some of them for health. Some of them for vanity. Some of them for social benefits.

    I play sports like soccer and I fight in the SCA becaus I enjoy physical activity, enjoy physical contact, and enjoy the games.

    I run, not because I enjoy it (because I don't really), because it helps burn fat, keep my lungs in aerobic shape for soccer, and raises my endorphin levels.

    I lift weights because it makes me look better (vanity), it provides me a boost of strength (male ego thing), and adds a level of fat burning tissue which makes it easier for me to stay thinner.

    Last, as you all mentioned, it improves my mood 1000x and is a form of meditation for me.

    So basically I workout for vanity reasons, I like how it makes me feel, it keeps me healthy, and it allows me to enjoy social benefits that are harder to achieve when you are out of shape and overweight.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Fitness - my fitness goals are just as, if not more important to me than my weight goals. Gotta keep breaking my running time records and get my upper body strength up there so I can do more push-ups and maybe pull-ups someday.

    Stress relief - Mon-Fri I work out in the gym here at work for an hour right before lunch. It's a great way to get away from my desk and break up the day. And if something's bugging me, I can vent about it to my gym buddy.

    Health - obesity, heart disease and diabetes are all health problems in my gene pool. The first two were the only ones effecting me before I started this but I'm sure if I kept on eating and being sedentary, the sugar issues wouldn't be far behind. Thankfully my high cholesterol and borderline high blood pressure have been taken care of by eating better and staying active. And as of this past Monday, I'm out of the obese range! :)
  • JennsLosing
    JennsLosing Posts: 1,026
    i go to a gym that has child care, so its my "me" time. its also a great stress reliever for me as well.
  • bunchesonothing
    bunchesonothing Posts: 1,015 Member
    It shouldn't matter who, but I really do get a kick out of passing up guys in races while I'm wearing a running skirt. I know it's wrong of me, but it's one of those feelings I can't seem to shake.
  • ickybella
    ickybella Posts: 1,438 Member
    Personal growth, surpassing goals, because I'm a bit of a masochist and so I can FEEL (not LOOK) like a sexy beast. That's how I feel after I run 13 miles.
  • ickybella
    ickybella Posts: 1,438 Member
    It shouldn't matter who, but I really do get a kick out of passing up guys in races while I'm wearing a running skirt. I know it's wrong of me, but it's one of those feelings I can't seem to shake.

    Haha, I live in the UK and I get a kick out of passing stopped or slowly-moving traffic! I wish I were joking.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    I work out to be a better figure skater. I want to be the best I can be. The exercise part is a side effect of my practice practice practice!
  • melindalamb
    melindalamb Posts: 80
    I love working out! I get an adrenaline rush, and it makes me happy. Also, if I do not exercise, I feel so sluggish. I want to lose the baby weight.
  • Alacey88
    Alacey88 Posts: 486 Member
    Enjoy it and health/stress relief
  • mrmarius
    mrmarius Posts: 1,802 Member
    i'm a busy body always in need of activity and working out fulfils that... I'm an endorphin junkie.. Relieves stress
  • LittleMissAlx
    LittleMissAlx Posts: 291 Member
    It started off being so that I had extra calories to eat.
    I kept working out because I felt so much fitter than I did. I used to walk 5mins up a hill every morning to meet my friend who picks me up for class, and I'd be out of breath - not even like I was especially overweight, just crazily unfit.
    Now I'm training to do my first 5k, and I really want to beat my boyfriend's best time of 23mins 30secs - currently can do it in 27mins. I'm *insanely* competitive, and the exercise and training has given me an outlet for this, and it's actually good for me as well, so it's an overall win. Fingers crossed!
  • SmartFunGorgeous
    SmartFunGorgeous Posts: 699 Member
    Zombies.

    This
  • zakkthebear
    zakkthebear Posts: 52 Member
    Because mountains, by definition, are not flat.

    Also, if I stop moving clowns will eat me. True fact.
  • meggers123
    meggers123 Posts: 711 Member
    So I'll be able to run fast when the zombie apocalypse occurs.

    edit: Just saw other people listed zombies as answer. YES! can we be friends? :smile:
  • mandeiko
    mandeiko Posts: 1,657 Member
    Gives me a natural high to feel what my body is capable of doing. :)
  • lizzybethclaire
    lizzybethclaire Posts: 849 Member
    I work out because it makes me feel better about myself. I like that I can run up the steps and not be out of breath. I like that I am stronger and can do more physical things.
  • FabCheeky
    FabCheeky Posts: 311
    Because I couldn't for so long. I was sick from undiagnosed food allergies (wheat, dairy, soy, corn). So, I'm trying to never take my life for granted. That means doing everything in my power to help my body be healthy. I love getting sweaty, leaving it all on the floor, checking out my new muscles, pushing myself to my absolute limits, beating my last 5k time, being a total bad *kitten*. I love lifting heavy things and running. I love wearing my 85 pound son as a back pack and running. (He's laughs the whole time...It's great.) I love dancing in my Zumba and Groove classes. (I don't go to the night clubs since I'm a mama...but that doesn't mean that I don't miss them.) I love the peaceful easy feeling I get after yoga.

    Find the love in you for the things that make you go harder. Then do them.
  • jtsmou
    jtsmou Posts: 503 Member
    Despite the shortcomings dictated by my Asian blood, I wanted to maximize my already awesome sexual prowess.

    I also wear this shirt 3 times a week as proof positive ;) (Grrrrr!!!) http://www.jlist.com/product/SHIRT-POWER

    Oh, and the whole Zombie Apocalypse thing too I guess.
  • hazelbliss6
    hazelbliss6 Posts: 253 Member
    1) controls my mild depression
    2) to fight off bad genetics- diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes/ MIs, even demantia is linked to poor diet
    3) to teach my son to love fitness and being healthy
    4) for ENERGY and great sleep
    5) to love shopping again :happy:
    6) to feel my best self again and give love another try
  • AmandaCG
    AmandaCG Posts: 46 Member
    1) controls my mild depression
    2) to fight off bad genetics- diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes/ MIs, even demantia is linked to poor diet
    3) to teach my son to love fitness and being healthy
    4) for ENERGY and great sleep
    5) to love shopping again :happy:
    6) to feel my best self again and give love another try
  • AmandaCG
    AmandaCG Posts: 46 Member
    These are my reasons too....not depression but anxiety and all sorts of cancer in my family. Thats is what keeps me at it day in and day out
  • Kelnurse
    Kelnurse Posts: 145
    I tell my friends and family if for some reason I wouldn't be able to exercise, I would not be very pleasant to be around. Exercise keeps me sane...well...for the most part ;-) ;-)
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