If you were told you were going to die in 2 weeks, what would you change about the way you live your life? Would you stop eating healthy foods and just pig out on all the yummy, tasty, crap that’s out there? Would you just plop yourself on a couch and chug gallons of beer and alcohol? Would you stop working out and exercising?
I wouldn’t change a thing about the way I eat or workout. Why not? Because I love the choices I’ve made. I don’t feel deprived or ripped off by choosing to go vegan or eating healthy foods. I love being active and working out every. I don’t eat healthy or exercise because I have to. I want to. Eating healthy tastes great and feels good. Exercising and being physical is my kind of fun.
It’s my way to play. I don’t stay active, run regularly, or do my crazy workouts just because I want to some certain magical numbers on my scale, or just so I can fit into a particular size pair of pants. I don’t even do it so I can have 6-pack abs, defined shoulders, or to be the hottest middle-aged body on the beach. That’s results-oriented and that sort of motivation isn’t much fun and doesn’t last for life.
I exercise, stay active, run, workout and eat healthy because I enjoy it. WHAT?! It’s not all about the results? I actually enjoy IT – like the actual doing of the activity. Even the word WORKout, seems wrong. It’s more like play for me. This is what I will call Lifestyle Fitness. The workouts and activities make me feel more alive, excited, powerful, and happy. That’s the key to being fit for life, by the way. You have to love what you’re doing. Let’s face the facts. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you won’t keep doing it.
Some of the best “workouts” I‘ve ever had were when I was playing soccer, hiking, rock-scrambling, or getting totally into some strange game. I would get so focused on what I was doing, having such a good time I didn’t want to stop even though sweat was pouring down my face and I was gasping for my next breath. Now that’s what exercise should be. And it’s what it used to be for every one of us. We just lost it somewhere on the road to being responsible, mature, hard-working out-of-shape adults. The idea that playing is just for kids is utter bulllshit. We bought into the idea that play is what kids do and work is what adults do. All wrong!
If working out feels like drudgery – something you just force yourself to do – and the only enjoyment you get out of it is being done with it, then you’ve got it all wrong. If the only things you like about exercise are the outward results or the sense that you survived it, then you are seriously missing out. And I doubt you will stick with it for life, let alone 3 years or more.
You should enjoy what you’re doing – the very act doing it. Even when my workouts are tough and challenging, I love the way it feels to use my body, to move my body, and to exert myself. Even when my runs are long or uphill, I love the feeling of my body in motion. I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Maybe I’m a nut, but I’m a happy nut who has fitness and health woven into who I am.
The key to lifelong fitness is loving what you do. If something is fun, you’ll keep doing it. It will be non-negotiable. You’ll make time to do it because you like it, not because you’ll be afraid of waking up 10 pounds heavier in the morning if you don’t and definitely not because of guilt.
If you aren’t loving and enjoying your workouts, change them up. I didn’t say QUIT. I said change. They should be fun for you. Try a million different activities, types of workouts, or sports. Find the ones that you enjoy.
For me that means taking on challenges, new combinations, unique activities, goofy games and moves, sports, being outside and using nature, structures, and whatever else I find in the playground that is all around me. What does it mean for you?
Play it! Enjoy it! Love it! Then you’ll LIVE IT!
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