How To Love Exercise

Contributed by Dani Barbosa

JKFITNESS staff on water rower

Okay, I know what you’re thinking… Can someone really love exercise? The answer is (duh duh duh duuuuuuh) YES!!

But, how?

Let’s talk about it. Exercise doesn’t have to be a dreaded, grueling activity that leaves you sweaty, beaten, and borderline dying. Exercise is defined as an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness. This being said, yoga, spin, walking, jogging, hiking, cycling, kickboxing, rowing, weight training, swimming, and group exercise classes are all examples of activities you could try. Odds are you are bound to semi-enjoy at least one of these activities. Find a mode of exercise that you enjoy; it will make the idea of having to “workout” less dreadful. When you enjoy your exercise program you are more likely to adhere to it, which means you are more likely to see results through consistent work, in turn keeping your motivated for more.

Let’s be honest here. We exercise because we want to see results. We want to see and feel changes in our body. We want to notice the inches you have shed or the weight that you have added to your lifts. Progress compounds over time. To get the results that you want, you must put in the work. Find an activity that you enjoy, do it, keep doing it, and reap the benefits of all your hard work!

Other than looking and feeling great, here are 10 reasons WHY to love exercise.

  1. Improved cardiovascular function
  2. Weight management
  3. Increased bone strength
  4. Improved Cholesterol panel
  5. Manage blood pressure
  6. Improved sleep
  7. Slow aging process
  8. Stress management
  9. Improve mental clarity
  10. Boost immune system

Go find an activity you enjoy, maybe one day even love! Stick to it! Enjoy!