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Your favourite benefits of exercise?
joowelz
Posts: 172 Member
I need motivation. What are your favourite benefits of exercise?
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Replies
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The fact that I have a body capable of doing it and it would be a waste if I didn't take advantage of it.15
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Being able to move and do most of what I want to do. That wasn't always the case.7
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Having the ability to change my body composition10
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The workouts make some of the fun stuff better. I don't ache as much as I used to after a day at the zoo. I am better at working the winches on the sailboat. I can dance longer and harder.
I enjoy seeing the progress. Someday I will literally be in head to knee pose.7 -
Cuts back on my emotional eating, improves my mood, fewer TOM symptoms... oh, and when I was in the recovery room after surgery, having a nurse compliment me on my trunk muscles when I was able to sit up unassisted.8
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Energy and Confidence. Knowing that I met a goal for myself daily.
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Gives me a hobby (science of training, nutrition, & recomposition fascinates me), being able to eat more than an average person just for maintenance, health & aesthetics (mostly clothes). Got to mention those ever addictive endogenous endorphins too...the natural high8
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Avoiding the permanent move to an assisted living facility for as long as possible.22
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Feeling great, sleeping better.
That feeling after having a great workout.
Longevity, avoiding doctors and health issues for as long as I can.
Eating more calories!
Seeing myself progress physically. I went from barely being able to walk around the block without huffing and puffing to easily doing a 10+ mile hike without being sore or tired. Or barely being able to touch my toes to doing a full split with ease.
Having my resting heart rate go from the mid 90's to the high 40's.
Body composition and loving what I see in the mirror.12 -
The energy boost I feel all day after exercising in the morning! Makes work a whole lot easier when my head is clear and I'm feeling like I've done my "duty" for the day.
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Not getting winded when taking stairs has been my biggest reward5
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Primarily it's getting through my races without getting tired, struggling to control the bike, or getting winded
Having the energy and ability to do the things I want to do.
Enjoying that taking the stairs or parking at the back of the lot isn't a big deal or much of a thought.
Feeling like I can do so much more - just a general sense of feeling stronger, able, and energetic.
Sleep - sleep much better when I'm working out
Aesthetics. I like to see my muscles and enjoy seeing them work. Knowing that I can rock that tank top or shoulderless dress.
I know I've said it already, but just my energy levels in general! I WANT to move more throughout the day, even if it's just fidgeting at my desk or a couple skips thrown in while walking someplace.
Knowing I can give women half my age a run for their money
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Getting strong.
Feeling like a badass.
Yep, that's enough.6 -
Less anxiety issues
Better sleep - I don't get the mid day slump anymore7 -
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...2 -
The way I look in the mirror.2
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I don't know if it's my favorite benefit, but one I've enjoyed quite a lot this winter has been increased balance and coordination (it hasn't hurt that we've had a lot of sidewalk ice this winter). I wasn't expecting that at all or thinking I had any problems in those areas, but after getting into doing regular calisthenic/interval workouts, it's genuinely noticeable. I've had a couple of near falls that definitely would have been falls a year ago. Also, I can put on my socks while standing on one foot!
Running has become a major tool for fighting depression and anxiety - I go into this almost meditative state while running and the rush of endorphins afterward is fabulous. For whatever reason running also makes my back feel better.
Pretty much every benefit of strength training has been positive so far. I'm stronger, my posture is better, my body looks better, and I feel like a superwoman. It's kind of magic...9 -
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.4 -
I have crazy fun clothes to wear. I like the music.3
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Strange, but I am not even sure that I can answer this question. Exercise has become so much of a part of my life that I am completely lost without it. I can't even quantify the benefits because if I am unable to exercise, it's like a part of me is missing.7
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The changing shape of my physique, my strength, my flexibility.5
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#1 for me is mental health. It keeps my anxiety levels down and when they flare up, a good workout can be a total reversal.
Other favourite benefits include the general mood boost, the ability to do more things in my day to day life that require strength, agility, or endurance without worrying about it.
I also really like that I can eat a little more.9 -
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.3 -
Zombie-ing this thread because I like the topic and thought of my favourite thing.
Daily exercise has given me so much more confidence.
I used to be a mess of anxiety and fears.
Now I can speak up for myself in real life the way I used to only be able to do online.
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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.
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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.")
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Recognizing that this is a zombie thread, my favorite things about running:
- First, the easy one: it's something my body can do now that I used to think was impossible.
- Second, the one that's going to make me sound nuts, unless you do it too: Do you ever play out imaginary conversations in your head? You know, arguments that you want to start but never actually will...comebacks you didn't think of...that sort of thing...well, apparently my brain likes to filter through all of that stuff during a run. I guess it's good for my mental health to get it all out.9 -
@apullum I can totally relate to that. I do a lot of my mental processing during my walks or runs.
This is a great topic............
I've only been regularly exercising for the past 6 months but I have seen immense benefits from regular activity. My mental health and mood is generally better, no more sore lower back, I'm more flexible, have more stamina to get through my busy day, more energy means more patience and I'm a more relaxed parent and spouse and I can see the changes in my body shape.
This summer I did a hiking trail that I found really challenging. When I did it again in the fall I couldn't beleive that I found it so easy. Seeing progress in your abilities is motivating!7 -
I can't see my journey being near as successful without exercise. I came from a very lean athletic body and then quit exercising and quit eating right for 16 YEARS (many reasons, but mostly just laziness and gluttony) and I gained 100 lbs.
From day one of my journey I started exercising along with keeping at a calorie deficit. It took everything I had and every breath to finish walking a few miles a day for the 1st month...Now I am back into weight training along with pretty intense cardio. I exercise EVERY day.
At age 54, this has turned my life around 180. It's taken away my depression and improved my labs completely, along with flexibility , stamina and muscle tone. I didn't even think this was possible last April, but now 83 lbs down and seeing my progress, I am a changed man!9 -
mental break5
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