The real reason you should exercise

I used to smoke weed.

I used to drink a lot.

I used to pop every pill under the sun.

I used to party till dawn, go to bed and then get up do it all over again.

And I did all of this after watching my father die of cancer due to his unhealthy lifestyle. You’d think, I would’ve learnt my lesson, but I was young dumb and full of rum.

Furthermore, like any red-blooded 20-year-old  something male, I thought I was indestructible, and I treated my body as such. I thought there would be no repercussions. I thought wrong.

After ditching this lifestyle and adopting a healthier lifestyle which also included moving countries, getting married, having children and becoming a personal trainer I’ve witnessed

• 3 clients battle pancreatic cancer and two who have lost that battle
• One pass away because of complications of a stroke
• One die due to complications of an amputation.

It was a privilege and an honor to train these people. Each of these clients had a level of determination and willpower that was off the charts. Everyone of them wanted to get better and not one of them complained about their dire circumstances.

Because if complaining was an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. Being around clients who struggled put me back in my place and reminded me of what’s important.

Being around that level of suffering on a personal and professional level has had a profound effect on me and the way I train clients. How could it not?

Most people hire trainers for weight loss or transformations because they don’t like the person they see in the mirror. They’re worried about (for the most part) about what they see on the outside.

You’re inundated with messages of body images, radical transformations, what you should and shouldn’t eat and the latest a greatest hack to get a slim and toned mid-section. And all this comes back to the way you look, not the way you feel.  How could you not be influenced by that?

But you should stop now.

After being around this suffering combined with my own unhealthy lifestyle and training older adults, I’m telling you the real reason you need to exercise, and it has nothing to do with the way you look and everything to do with……..

Health. Yes, your health.

Exercise is known for increasing life expectancy, improving sleep quality, reducing heart disease and for dramatically improving your overall quality of life. However, you probably already know this, but I’m reminding you anyway.

What type of exercise you do is immaterial. Whether it’s lifting weights, running, yoga, martial arts, dancing or walking, all movement is good movement and you’ll be lapping everybody on the couch. All you must do is engage in whatever floats your boat for the rest of your life.

You read correctly. The rest of your life because if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.

And there are times when life gets on top on you, unforeseen circumstances happen and what’s inside the refrigerator is more appealing than going to the gym to get your sweat on.

However, by keeping your health a priority most of the time, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor.

Finishing up

Most people who exercise have vanity reasons for doing so and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, when you focus on your health and what’s happening on your inside too, you’ll be better inside and out.

Do you need help starting an exercise routine or your bored of your current one? Contact me here and we can problem solve together.