For me personally, there are a LOT of reasons to get & stay fit. Some of you have probably read a bit about me and my decision at an early age to pursue fitness. When I was in college I saw a group of “older” men playing handball—and I decided that I wanted to be as active as them when I got “that old”. They were in their 40’s—now I’m in my 70’s—and still playing handball. I’ve put a lot of my life into pursuing fitness—and have met & talked to a lot of people along the way who are just starting their fitness journey and some who are well down the path to healthy, active living. Over the years, I’ve noticed a few common themes in what is motivating people to exercise and pursue fitness:
1. HEALTH.
Health is a HUGE motivator—sometimes it’s our own decision to change how we feel physically—sometimes it’s a doctor or spouse-inspired decision. No matter what the instigator, once people are on the pathway to health, I’ve found in my years of getting to know fitness-oriented folks, the road to health is a big motivator in and of itself. Once people realize how good health feels, the motivation self-perpetuates. The fact of the matter is: we feel better the healthier we are! Who doesn’t want to feel as wonderful as possible?
2. JOY.
For some people, the joy of activeness needs to grow on them. For others, like me, it’s naturally engrained within them to find joy in activity. I’ve met a lot of people along the way who didn’t experience much joy to start out with—and now can hardly survive a day without some sort of fitness activity! If you’re among the group of folks who isn’t experiencing happiness & joy in your fitness routine, I have two pieces of advice for you: 1. Try something else. Maybe your current activity isn’t the right activity! 2. Surround yourself with people who are excited to get active every day. Their excitement is contagious!
Photo from here.
3. LONGEVITY.
Of course, living longer is pretty directly tied to health, but I think these are slightly different motivators. A lot of people are getting fit & healthy so they can be there for loved ones—and be as active with their loved ones as much as is possible while they’ve still got time. Living a healthy lifestyle can add years to your life—and life to your years!
Are you motivated by one of these reasons? Or do you have another motivator to get you active & fit? Share your story with us!
