The Why of Your Workout: if it's weight loss, it's probably doomed

If you are working out ONLY to lose weight, what do you think is going to happen once the weight is lost? OR... what will happen if you don’t actually experience any weight loss from working out? 

In her BRILLIANT book No Sweat, Michelle Segar explains that the only real reason anyone sticks with exercise is because they ENJOY it and they enjoy how it makes them feel IN THE MOMENT. In other words, you can white knuckle your way through workouts that feel like punishment to you for a period of time but you will not — statistically speaking — stick with those workouts for very long. Segar explains that many people begin exercise regimens because they want “better health” but that goal is too vague and too far off in the future to make exercise stick. Humans are pleasure-seeking animals. If we don’t WANT to do something, eventually we will do whatever we can to stop doing it. 

Weight loss is not a good reason to move your body. Concentrating on the way we feel when we move our bodies is key to creating consistency in movement. If your body FEELS better and your mind feels more relaxed and clearer after your workout, as it should, THIS is a good reason to workout. THIS is the Why that will keep you coming back for more day after day after day. And it is only in consistency that we create "health." 

So, if it feels good, do it. And if your workouts feel more like punishment, I would urge you to STOP immediately... read Segar’s book and/or take stock of what kind of movement your body would actually enjoy. EVERYONE’s body WANTS SOME kind of movement. Find the movement that you enjoy and that consistently keeps you coming back for more!

May you love yourself.
May you respect your body.
May you be grateful.
May you be free.

And may you find joyful movement!
xo -JodiAnn

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