Your favourite benefits of exercise?

joowelz
joowelz Posts: 172 Member
I need motivation. What are your favourite benefits of exercise?
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Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited March 2018
    joowelz wrote: »
    I need motivation. What are your favourite benefits of exercise?

    I can do all kinds of things with my body that I couldn't when I was out of shape. I can go hiking with my kids when we go camping. I can go rock climbing for hours. I can play and keep up with my kids in general. I can move heavier things around without straining so much...we just moved a few months ago, and it was a breeze relative to how it would have been when I was out of shape; It puts me in a better mood, I can move my body in ways that previously would have had me moaning and groaning...plus I just like being fit.

    It also helps if you actually do an exercise activity that you enjoy. I primarily cycle, which I love so it doesn't require a whole lot of motivation for me to get out on the road and ride. Going to the gym requires a little more get up and go, but I like being strong and I'd say my physique is a ton better than the vast majority of 43 years old guys I see.

    ETA: I've also seen a dramatic improvement to my overall health, and my blood pressure in particular is much better controlled with regular exercise...
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    The way I look in the mirror.
  • saragd012
    saragd012 Posts: 693 Member
    It greatly improves my mood, especially when the weather is poor and I start feeling tempted to crawl under the covers and hibernate. Motivating myself to get up is a PITA but I know I will feel 110% better once I've completed the workout and can walk out of the gym a sweaty successful mess.

    Also every time I get to add more weights I feel like a complete badass. Or when I'm in a rush going up the stairs with a coworker, chatting away while quickly climbing up, only to realize they are absolutely dying trying to keep up.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    I have crazy fun clothes to wear. I like the music.
  • RollTideHusker
    RollTideHusker Posts: 231 Member
    It helps to keep me motivated.

    I feel better, in general. I have a few aches & pains still, but it’s nothing like how I used to hurt.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,551 Member
    My favourite benefit is ... sleep.


    When I'm a little bit out of shape, I sleep like a log when I've had more than an hour's exercise in a day.

    When I'm in better shape, I sleep like a log when I've had 2 or 3 hours of exercise in a day.

    When I'm in really good shape, I sleep like a log when I've had 5 or 6 hours of exercise in a day.

    It's great!! I get these really deep, restful night's sleep when I exercise. :)
  • ElizabethKalmbach
    ElizabethKalmbach Posts: 1,415 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    My favourite benefit is ... sleep.

    YAAAAS.

    Apparently, I've had ADHD all my life and a shortage of dopamine keeps me from getting deep sleep. Before they put me on adderall (To help me sleep. Because of course that's how I work. >_<), about 5-6 hours of cardio could put me down for a restful sleep.

    Now I have a "quick" fix for days when I don't have time to move like I'd prefer, but the deep sleep of cardio is so much more satisfying than the sudden crash shut-down of adderall.

    I've found a "happy medium" between the two, slightly reducing my cardio to only a couple hours per day and boosting with a smidge (I'm on a child's dose.) of store-bought. ("If you can't make your own, store-bought is fine.")