So many people view working out as a punishment for eating dessert. I’m here to tell you that a typical gym rat isn’t at the gym because they hate their bodies or are desperate to lose weight. There are so many better reasons to work out other than to lose weight. Below are just nine of many reasons that do not include weight loss.
1. Get to try new things
A lot of people can be intimidated by the idea of entering the gym for the first time, but in reality, lots of different activities can count as working out! Going on a run, swimming, hiking, playing a sport, dancing, martial arts, and yoga are all included under the umbrella term of working out. Trying new things and gaining new skills is a lot of fun and is a great way to wow people the next time you have to do an ice breaker!
2. Meet new people
Working out can be as social as you want it to be! By attending a gym class, recruiting a workout buddy, or simply striking up conversation with the staff, you get to meet people with a common interest as you! There is nothing better for a friendship than bonding over a shared hatred of burpees!
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3. Wear fun workout clothes
Workout clothes can be really cute! With lots of designs and fun colors to choose from, you can really up your selfie game despite being covered in sweat. Many workout clothes are also super comfy and can be worn when running to that 8am class that’s impossible to wake up in time for.
4. Learn to appreciate what your body can do
There seems to be a trend in people working out because they hate their bodies, but working out has taught me to love what my body can do and not how it looks. If you start appreciating that your legs can run 2 miles, you slowly stop hating how they might look in the mirror.
5. Accomplish goals that make you feel amazing
There’s nothing better than looking at the numbers on a treadmill and realizing that you hit your goal distance and/or time. This applies to weight lifting and many other workouts too. Setting goals not only motivates us, but makes us feel amazing when they’re accomplished.
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6. Helps relieve stress
As any college student knows, stress is a constant emotional state for many students. Working out releases endorphins, which can make you feel happier. For some people, myself included, certain workouts like boxing can take stress relief to a whole new level. Chances are, you will leave the gym in a better mental state than when you entered.
7. Helps wake you up and keep you moving
Working out can cause a spike in adrenaline, which is why many health experts recommend not working out before bed, but for the nap-loving student, working out can be a way to avoid mid-day naps or excessive coffee drinking.
8. Makes other activities easier
By staying active, you make other aspects of your life easier. Walking up stairs, running to catch the bus, or carrying around a pile of books feels a million times easier if your body is used to working out your muscles.
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9. Makes you realize how unimportant weight is
Many people associate working out with weight loss and view it as a punishment for eating dessert or having a slice of pizza. This negative attitude is part of the reason why so few people stick to workout routines after New Years. When you workout, you might not see the scale go down at all. For many people, the gains in muscle counteract the loss of fat. Once you realize how inaccurate a scale is at determining health, you can begin to appreciate your body for what it can do. You take pride in how many miles you can run or how much you can squat instead of how small a useless number is.
At the end of the day, working out should not be a punishment. If you work out simply because you ate dessert, you won’t enjoy it and chances are, you won’t stick with it. A healthy lifestyle should not be based in numbers on a scale. Work out because you love your body, not because you hate it.