Physical Activity and Happiness

What can I say? Being active makes me happier than most other activities I pursue. I would like to say that it's ONLY about how I feel afterwards... the accomplishment, the endorphins, etc... but it's very hard not to focus on the physical changes that come along with working out. I often find myself looking in the mirror or taking pictures of my more defined muscles or smaller stomach. What I've noticed over time, however, is that weight fluctuates... throughout the year, the month, the week... even throughout the DAY. Why should I bother checking out my stomach if it's just going to make me UNHAPPY when it's bigger after dinner?

I have to say that I do NOT recommend working out to see physical changes. This may seem hypocritical because, yes, I do it too, but it doesn't make me happy, and, if anything, it causes me more distress. It is something that I am currently working on changing.

Not everything we do has to be in our own best interest... in fact, if it were, nobody would ever do nice things for others. However, exercise, aside from sports, is a personal and self-centered activity. We should do it to improve our cardiovascular health, our strength, and our longevity. Magazines, which I will discuss in depth another time, often portray exercise as a vehicle for weight loss or toning up, but that puts unnecessary pressure on us. People wouldn't care what they looked like if they felt happy and healthy already!

Also, wouldn't it be nice to just work out when we felt like it and when we had the energy? I know that in our society, with stressful jobs, home lives, and other seemingly more important priorities, exercise seems more like a chore than an activity to do for fun. This is why there are days when we can't exercise or just don't want to, and that's OKAY. I find that I have to consistently remind myself that even a 15 minute walk counts for physical activity. If I have a lot of homework, even stretching in between assignments makes me feel better.

The main idea here is that...
1) Our bodies were meant to move, but we aren't all gym junkies, and we don't all need to be! I personally like pumping iron sometimes, but salsa dancing, hiking, and kayaking are all just as beneficial.
2) On those days when we just have too much to do, we can't beat ourselves up about being "LAZY". If you're one of those people who KNOWS you will be unhappy if you don't get any physical activity, then you're like me, and you probably want to take a short stroll or a stretching break. If you are totally okay with not exercising for a day, then good for you! We all admire you :)
3) I don't believe that excuses help anybody too much, but neither does regret. My tip is to just say, "What can I do that will make me feel better in the long run?" (haha, maybe go for a LONG RUN. Okay, that was stupid.)
4) If you are more of the type who makes excuses and lacks motivation on most days to work out, try some type of new exercise. There are endless ways to get your body moving and your heart rate up. I actually shot hoops yesterday and scootered around the block for the first time since last summer, and it was incredibly fun!

Fitness is one of those things that is always on my mind, so you will definitely hear more from me on this topic.