I sometimes wonder why I bother.

[jAded]

Yesterday morning I had a killer work-out. I then went out and ate a big risotto for dinner, drank beer and had lemon-tart for dessert, which may have defeated the whole purpose of exercising.

Anyway, why do you exercise? Fitness? Body-shaping? Longevity and disease prevention? Or you love the high and sense of achievement you gain?

Or, like me, you do it to try and balance out all the food you love to eat!

[Blobbenstein]

if you build up muscle bulk, it can burn off calories even when you are not exercising.
So I gather....

[Wednesday_12]

There are plenty of benefits to exercise other than weight loss!

I like excercising because it makes me feel good about myself and makes me more confident! Plus it can be a fun way to socialise if you do outdoor activities- like kayaking and hiking.

[Paraiso]

aww don't be so hard on yourself jAded. Well all have those days.

When I was really into my workout sessions (walking/jogging 4 miles daily) I did mainly for the weight loss, after awhile it just became a hobby something I enjoyed. Now, I've fallen off the wagon so I have to get into working out again.

[jAded]

Oh I definitely do it for more than weight-loss. Anything I do for vanity alone, I'll lose interest in very quickly unfortunately!

[beatricious]

There are plenty of benefits to exercise other than weight loss!

I like excercising because it makes me feel good about myself and makes me more confident! Plus it can be a fun way to socialise if you do outdoor activities- like kayaking and hiking.

+1 I think too many people see exercise as a punishment for eating too much, or as something they "have" to do in order to maintain their weight. Remember how much fun you had running around when you were a kid? Try finding a physical activity that you actually enjoy, and try not to think about how long you've been going and how many calories you're burning. Exercise really can be fun.

[Marie]

What's the point in working out if you can't drink and eat pasta?

[jAded]

+1 I think too many people see exercise as a punishment for eating too much, or as something they "have" to do in order to maintain their weight. Remember how much fun you had running around when you were a kid? Try finding a physical activity that you actually enjoy, and try not to think about how long you've been going and how many calories you're burning. Exercise really can be fun.

Hmm, I think you may have misinterpreted my post. I enjoy the high and sense of achievement after doing exercise and also the satisfaction I get from knowing I'm doing something good for my long-term health. But I also do it to try and counteract (even if only in my mind!) all the eating I love to do. I don't think of it as punishment at all.

I guess I mostly titled it that way as I also want to try and change the shape of my body a little and going and pigging out probably cancelled out a lot of the good I did! But trust me, I'm not neurotic about it at all.

[beatricious]

Hmm, I think you may have misinterpreted my post. I enjoy the high and sense of achievement after doing exercise and also the satisfaction I get from knowing I'm doing something good for my long-term health. But I also do it to try and counteract (even if only in my mind!) all the eating I love to do. I don't think of it as punishment at all.

I guess I mostly titled it that way as I also want to try and change the shape of my body a little and going and pigging out probably cancelled out a lot of the good I did! But trust me, I'm not neurotic about it at all.

I wasn't really talking about you, just responding generally. I know what you mean about counteracting good food, but don't worry about cancelling out the good you do! Exercise has so many great benefits, and keep in mind that if you work out, you need more calories, so you're naturally going to be hungrier. :)

[jAded]

Ah, I see. Yeah there are plenty of people out there who do view exercise that way, which is a shame. Personally, I'd find it exhausting seeing it as something I "had to do" and hating every minute of it.

[sunshinegal]

I exercise for many reasons:

1. I like how I feel when I am exercising (and after). I feel powerful and accomplished.
2. I can eat more
3. I am building muscle and keeping my bones healthy
4. I keep a healthy figure and therefore like clothes shopping much more then I would if I were out of shape. :rockon:

[Starblossom]

When I exercise, it's because it feels good to be moving my body. It's also healthy. Even if I stuff my face with sugary crap afterwards, or later in the week, well just imagine how much worse off I'd be if I ate badly AND got no exercise! Every bit helps!

[KHADIJAH]

Dont beat your self up, just try again. Tomorrow is a new day.

[Brandon]

Anyway, why do you exercise? Fitness? Body-shaping? Longevity and disease prevention? Or you love the high and sense of achievement you gain?


All the above! On top of it, I just enjoy feeling my body move and all my muscles working together. Pushing yourself and feeling your body grow stronger over time is awesome.

I definitely try to eat healthy 98% of the time, but I won't lie, I love some :beer:. :lol:

[PTree15]

Yesterday morning I had a killer work-out. I then went out and ate a big risotto for dinner, drank beer and had lemon-tart for dessert, which may have defeated the whole purpose of exercising.

Anyway, why do you exercise? Fitness? Body-shaping? Longevity and disease prevention? Or you love the high and sense of achievement you gain?

Or, like me, you do it to try and balance out all the food you love to eat!

Pretty much all of the above :D.
I really like being outside, so I walk about an hour a day five or six days a week. I started doing it initially to lose weight, but now I find I need it mentally as well as physically. In addition to all the health benefits (and getting to eat more), it's a great stress reliever and a good way to clear your head.

[dani_cat]

I exercise because:
It relieves stress
I feel better about myself
To lose weight
Eat bad foods
And its my time.

[Pixelle]

Ah, I see. Yeah there are plenty of people out there who do view exercise that way, which is a shame. Personally, I'd find it exhausting seeing it as something I "had to do" and hating every minute of it.


That's me. :-/

I don't hate exercise but I dislike doing it as disciplined routine. I find that I really have to force myself to do it sometimes. I'm ok once I get started on the treadmill or the gym, but to tell the truth, there's a lot of other things I'd rather be doing.

[karenlovessnow]

That's me. :-/

I don't hate exercise but I dislike doing it as disciplined routine. I find that I really have to force myself to do it sometimes. I'm ok once I get started on the treadmill or the gym, but to tell the truth, there's a lot of other things I'd rather be doing.

That's pretty much how it is for me, too. Summer was good because I was walking 5-6 days a week outside with about half of it up an incline. The more I walked the more I wanted to walk. Now that it's cold out, I haven't walked in over two weeks. I had to trade walking for an exercise video I can do indoors. My other deterrent is the fact that if I don't exercise in the morning, I absolutely will not do it after work...I'm just too tired. So right now I'm in the 'forcing myself mode', but I do it because I know it is good for me. It certainly isn't helping the weight issue, because apparently, I'm not doing 'enough'. But I definitely like the health benefits and I will never NOT exercise as long as I am able to move around in some form or another.

[halo_zero]

How would you feel if you ate that and drank that and had not worked out?

That's one of the main reasons I exercise.

[MZCsmpsns]

Regardless of how you eat/drink/etc... some exercise is better than none.

[FitChick99]

When I was in college and drank a lot of beer, I wasn't necessarily happy with my body, but I always said, "I don't want to know what I would look like if I didn't work out!"

I exercise for several reasons. Health. Fun. Looks. The way it makes me feel accomplished after I've done it. And also out of guilt. I know how good it is for me, so I feel guilty if I don't do it most days of the week. Oh, and also I teach group exercise classes, so sometimes I exercise because it's my job :)