Why do you do it?

Options
MSeel1984
MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was thinking about this during my workout this morning-what is motivating me in my effort to get into better shape?

Is it more about health for you or about how you look? I think it's both for me. I'm hoping as I get in better shape my Type I diabetes will be better controlled...looking better in my clothes (and without them) is also part of why I'm doing this...

I don't know what came first as far as my motivation for working out and eating better...

What about you all?
«13

Replies

  • Bernadette60614
    Bernadette60614 Posts: 707 Member
    Options
    My quality of life is better when I'm eating healthfully, taking care of my body and respect the way I care for myself.

    If I invest 2 hours a day in myself (one hour of working out and one hour of meal prep/thoughtful eating) the remaining hours of my day are of higher quality.
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    Options
    For me it's about how I look.
  • XmanMike
    XmanMike Posts: 183 Member
    Options
    For health purposes, mostly. I am middle age now and I wanna still continue being fit and active. I have a memory of being on ship during the Gulf War and the Sargeant Major was 51 years old but he was in phenomenal shape! Muscular and ripped! He was so energetic, full of life and strong even in the midst of the war. I told myself then that I would be that way as well.
  • razzle29
    razzle29 Posts: 9
    Options
    Today I was in-line at Subway and there was this younger woman infront of me with this killer, toned body. I probably
    was foaming at the mouth but she was patient and answered my questions. She had been doing stronglifts 5x5 for quite some
    time, at the end of our convo I decided that I was going to give it a shot. Surprisingly, she came with me and helped me pick out
    some weights and nick named me a "she-hulk in disguise" lol.

    Losing the weight would be for my health, lifting for me is 100% vanity :P
  • TinaReinholz
    TinaReinholz Posts: 37
    Options
    When I started it was completely look related. Now I'm loving the feeling I get after I lift or exercise and the way my body is felling also. There's so much more I can do.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,136 Member
    Options
    It's become habit now. The long term reason, one that I started with a year ago, is to get my doctors to do something about my health problems rather than scoffing them off on my weight.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Options
    It's both for me. I put on a lot of weight in my 2nd pregnancy and knew I was putting weight on at the time as I didn't exercise (I had all the best intentions but the tiredness, nausea and having a toddler to look after and working just didn't make it possible) but nothing prepared me for how miserable I was when my daughter was born and I still resembled a beached whale. So I got right back on the exercising as soon as she was 7 weeks old.

    I feel so much more confident and better about myself now.

    I never had any health issues, but my dad has type 2 diabetes and is overweight, and I don't want that to happen to me in the future.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,867 Member
    Options
    Started out being purely for health reasons...then I got addicted to fitness and started signing up for races and ****...now I do it because I have to train if I want to compete...and I love competing. My body continues to and that's pretty awesome too....
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Options
    To look good naked.



    And achieve fitness goals I'd never even dreamed of setting in the first place.
  • jayce54321
    jayce54321 Posts: 110 Member
    Options
    For my long term health. When I get older I want to be able to care for myself, don't want a nursemaid (unless she looks like you!:tongue: ) Diabetes runs in the family and I refuse to let it kill me.
  • Factory_Reset
    Factory_Reset Posts: 1,651 Member
    Options
    Vanity

    And to be able to lift more each time
  • ERMOT
    ERMOT Posts: 8 Member
    Options
    Health--I had gallstones after my second pregnancy; and for years everything I ate made me feel sick. My mom had been on MFP for awhile and after I'd whined about not feeling good--again--she said, "TRY MFP! JUST DO IT!" Honestly, I was annoyed and secretly joined to show her it wouldn't work. Of course, she showed me and I've been here for a year and a half. I've never felt better in my life and I keep it up because I don't ever want to feel awful like I used to again. The smaller me is just icing on the cake.
  • GloAveritt
    GloAveritt Posts: 2
    Options
    For me it is both. I want to look and feel good about myself. i want to be a lot healthier too because my family has a lot of heart issues and diabetes.
  • 43932452
    43932452 Posts: 7,246 Member
    Options
    Image, health, family, quality of living, because damn it .. I'm worth it. :)
  • SouthernButt
    SouthernButt Posts: 32
    Options
    Today I was in-line at Subway and there was this younger woman infront of me with this killer, toned body. I probably
    was foaming at the mouth but she was patient and answered my questions. She had been doing stronglifts 5x5 for quite some
    time, at the end of our convo I decided that I was going to give it a shot.

    That's awesome! I want to eventually get into lifting as well.

    I want to get into good shape for all the reasons...

    I want to beat up the boys that I've always rough housed with. :)
    I want to look great in whatever I'm wearing and I know everyone has their moments.
    To get my health up and that means inside and out. I've already noticed my skin has improved greatly.
    I've partied pretty hard throughout the years, I imagine it has and will continue to take a toll so I'd like to combat that all that I can.
    I want to be able to be proud of my accomplishment and help others who feel like I do now.
    I don't want to be shamed into working out by myself. I've always dated guys that wanted to workout together. HAHAHAHA. No.

    Oh, and that size 8 sequin Calvin Klein LBD isn't sitting in my closet so I can give it to a friend. THAT DRESS WILL BE WORN.
  • belinus
    belinus Posts: 112 Member
    Options
    The politically correct answer is because I want to be healthier.

    The true answer is I hate what I see in the mirror, I am extremely annoyed by weight-related problems I have, and I am sick of having to buy clothes and furniture from specialty stores.
  • razzle29
    razzle29 Posts: 9
    Options
    I can see myself flexing while tucking a strand of hair behind my ear :P
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    Options
    Well for me 4 years ago I could barely stand for 30 seconds at a stretch and walking was next to impossible so anything I am doing today is just a bonus!! So for me I workout "Because a Can!!"
  • 6ofone
    6ofone Posts: 13
    Options
    I don't want to look like a male ape with a baby at 40+ (gotta love those family gene's on dads side) and really enjoy working out and the challenges.
    :happy:
  • alisonlynn1976
    alisonlynn1976 Posts: 929 Member
    Options
    My primary motivation was so I could fit into better clothes. I do also appreciate the good things I'm doing for my health, though!

Categories