Exercise is NOT for Weight Loss

Photo Credit: Hannah Nicole Photography

Of all the things I wish people would have told me when I was younger, this one - exercise is not for weight loss - is one that could have saved me the most grief. Allow me to explain.

When you're unhealthy and you have the urge to lose weight, you automatically assume that you must exercise strenuously such that it will negate an insane amount of calories. Then, voila - weight loss! And because you see it as punishment for gaining weight, it becomes a chore. For me, it was like cleaning the toilet - it was that loathsome!

Alas, you do it anyway. You start with a program that's way too hard and you're sore for days. Insert NSAIDs. You watch other people who have been working out for years and you get disgruntled by how easily they flow through a tough workout without a drop of perspiration on their brow, meanwhile you look like you just got out of the shower.

Eventually you quit because it sucks. It sucks bad. And you haven't seen the scale budge, which pours salt in the wound. I mean, that's the reason you were working out anyway, right?

What you don't know when you're stuck in an unhealthy lifestyle is that exercise is a daily habit. Whether you take a walk, lift weights, join a fitness class, whatever, it's something you do consistently - not something you do just during the timeframe you imposed on yourself to lose weight. So, it becomes something you get to do every day and not something you have to do as punishment. Read that again.

Also, you don't understand that exercise is for longevity, mental health and clarity, maintaining lean muscle mass and bone density (because we lose those as we age), hormonal balance, better circulation, reducing the risk for chronic diseases, mobility, etc. We miss all these benefits because they're not tangible and all we care about is worshiping the almighty, digital bathroom god who gives us a number that can literally fluctuate with a bowel movement.

So, am I saying you can't lose weight from exercising? No. I'm not saying that at all. Exercise in any form does, in fact, expend energy which can possibly lead you to a caloric deficit if your diet is right. And, building muscle allows your body to be more "metabolically hungry" which means you'll naturally burn more calories. But even then, there are hundreds of factors that can contribute to that overall number on the scale.

What I am saying is this: your focus is off. Your mindset isn't allowing you to see anything past a number on a scale so, therefore, you see it as grueling and unnecessary instead of beneficial and healthy. So, save yourself some grief and start exercising for the right reasons. Do it for you and your well-being. Exercising is NOT for weight loss. It's for freedom. It's for joy. It's for better days ahead.

Your Coach,

April

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