By Kristin Lamb, CHWC
Are you perplexed as to why it seems some people are continuously concerned with the shape of their body? There may be more to it than meets the eye. Let’s explore a variety of reasons that motivate others and maybe you, too, will “find your fit.”
Reaching your ideal body composition can be achieved in many ways by “finding your fit,” or your reason to be motivated to make a physical change. In my job as a certified health and wellness coach, here are some of the most common reasons I hear:
- Keeping up with their kids or grandkids. This entails being strong enough to help them when needed, agile enough to play with them and fast enough to keep up with them.
- Having confidence to do new things. Whether it’s join a recreational sports team or get out in the dating scene, it can be overwhelming if you lack confidence.
- Mental and emotional well-being. This is a common reason I hear from those who enjoy exercising.
- Disease prevention or management. There’s no doubt about it that physical fitness lowers risks for chronic diseases and can help maintain your cardiopulmonary strength.
- Excelling at work. If your job is physically demanding, staying lean can make it easier to perform your job duties.
- Lowering stress. Perhaps you find that life’s demands add excessive, unwanted stress. Lucky for us, exercise can reduce stress and lower blood pressure.
- Fulfilling a long-time goal. Maybe you’ve had a lifetime fight with weight and the drive to overcome it.
- Looking for a challenge. It’s also possible that you like a challenge and you want to push your body to be stronger and faster.
- Enjoying nature. Let’s not forget the joy of sightseeing! Whether we are walking, hiking, running or biking, our feet can take us beautiful places.
We all should have learned about inertia by junior high—it’s the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion. That principal rings true for humans, too. If we want to age gracefully, we must stay in motion. We must “find our fit.” Find what works for you and what you’re passionate about. Find a rationale or justification system that makes sense to you. Ask yourself why you want to be fit, and for each answer you give, ask yourself “why?” again until you get down to the root of your reason. Make fitness a priority. Explore these ideas with your friends and family to encourage them to find their fit.
Still not sure what your fit is? Take a stroll. Walking is great way get your mind moving, too.