I work out 5-6 times a week.
Sometimes, it’s a fairly strenuous workout; sometimes not so much.
So I get quite a bit of exercise, but I don’t really consider myself a health and fitness fanatic.
If I were, I probably would not have another 15-20 pounds I’d like to lose. I’d already be lean and ripped, like I was 20 years ago, and not afraid to run around in public with my shirt off …
I have other priorities now and things I like to do, so while health and fitness is high on the list — top 3? — it’s not everything.
Not sure if I should be saying all this, since I’m a professional personal trainer and this is my fitness blog, but sometimes I’m honest to a fault, which gets me in trouble now and then.
Compared to some people, I suppose, I’m a bit of a fanatic. To others, definitely not.
So what’s your point here, ol’ man?
Well, I know there are plenty of people out there who “need” to exercise but don’t really see the point. They’re healthy. Feeling pretty good. Not overweight (at least not too much). Busy with other things. Living the good life.
So why exercise?
Well, for me, it IS a bit of an obsession, I guess. I’m somewhat addicted to pole vaulting, although I haven’t jumped in a competition this year since January. I still practice once a week, and I’m about to kick things into a little higher gear as a couple of big year-end meets get closer. And, in order to be able to pole vault and do reasonably well, and not injure myself in the process, I have to be in fairly good physical condition.
So that’s always in the back of my mind. Plus, I just like to get my body moving. I enjoy the process of 25 minutes of intervals on the treadmill, lifting weights, doing core exercises when I don’t want to do core exercises.
The body is an incredible machine that is designed to move. It LIKES to move. And exercise is important to keep it working well enough to do all those other things that you would rather be doing.
Once again, here are some of the benefits of regular exercise:
- Decreased risk of heart and lung disease.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Increased brain function.
- Overall strength, balance, flexibility.
- Getting rid of those fat pants.
OK, you probably won’t find that last one anywhere, but having to buy a pair of fat pants back in the day is something I will never forget. It was truly a sad day for me. As my waist size in pants steadily went up over the years from 32 inches, and I started wearing baggy extra-large shirts, I always said I would never buy a pair of 40-waist jeans or slacks.
Well, that day finally came … at a Beall’s department store.
I never want a repeat of the day.
