Forget the Scale … Here Are the Real Reasons to Embrace Fitness
Look at any so-called “fitness” program out there, and you’ll be inundated with messages about how your body needs to conform to some specific beauty standard. That you need to lose weight so you can look a certain way.
Then join one of those programs and you’ll find that they’re completely weight-obsessed—and they want you to be too. With shame-based tactics like weekly (sometimes public) weigh-ins, these programs make you so fixated on the number on the scale that you can lose sight of why you wanted to get fit in the first place.
Because even if dropping pounds is on your list of priorities, it’s generally not the root of the reason you want to get fit. If you want to lose weight, why do you want to lose weight? Is it for your health? Are you trying to reduce your risk of developing a specific illness? Do you want to increase your stamina, and therefore your enjoyment of certain activities?
Those are the types of reasons to tap into when you’re embarking on a weight and wellness program. Why? Because they aren’t arbitrary, like the number on a scale. They’re major, beneficial goals that you can set your sights on when you start to feel discouraged and need a booster shot of motivation.
Here are 5 reasons to get in shape that have absolutely nothing to do with your weight or whether you can fit into skinny jeans. They’re all about those deeper motivations that will improve your life—no matter what the scale says!
- Lower your risk of diabetes (or even turn it around). Getting fit is one of the best things you can do to get your blood sugar in check and reduce your risk for diabetes. If you have diabetes or are on the path to it, engaging in a holistic wellness program is one of the best things you can do for your health.
- Improve heart health. Being in good physical shape can lower your blood pressure, improve your cholesterol, reduce your stroke risk, and lessen your likelihood of developing heart disease.
- Move like you used to. Being out of shape can severely limit your ability to do the things you used to do—like walking for a long distance, riding a bike, going for a hike … If you think twice about doing activities you used to enjoy simply because you’re not sure you can physically do them, that can be a great motivator for getting in shape. Getting stronger and ridding yourself of extra pounds can improve joint pain and improve mobility, putting all your favorite activities back within reach.
- Sleep better. Do you toss and turn at bedtime? Or do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and having a hard time getting back to sleep? Being out of shape may be a factor. Even a small reduction in weight—just 5 percent—can help you sleep better, according to research. Getting fit can also improve sleep apnea, which is a serious health concern.
- Have more fun in bed. Getting in shape can improve your sex life in a few ways. First, it balances your hormones, which of course are essential for a healthy sex drive. Second, getting in shape gives you more energy … which can put an end to all those yawning mumbles of, “Not tonight, dear.” And third, better physical fitness means better blood flow
Aren’t all those reasons to get in shape much more compelling than, “Hit this goal weight”? We certainly think so. If you’re ready for a shame-free, benefits-based plan to get in the best shape of your life—for all the right reasons—we’re here for you.
