Why exercise? Is it to look good? Lose weight? A social thing?
Here are 3 primary reasons that I came up with for why I exercise:
(1) Maximize Health: Do the things that keep me healthy for the long haul and increase resilience (the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness). For example, endurance exercise (running, cycling, swimming > 20 minutes at moderate effort) improves cardiovascular health (strengthens heart, lowers blood pressure, lowers body fat, etc.). Strength training retains lean muscle mass as I get older. Exercise is good for mental health, too. But, there is also a need for balance. For example, too much endurance exercise can cause problems (heart atrial fibrillation, arterial hardening) later in life.
(2) Maximize Future Options: I don’t want to be limited by what I can’t do especially as I get older. I’m going to water ski when I’m 80. If I feel the need to run another marathon or hike the Pacific Crest Trail, I can do that. This ties in with maximizing health by choosing exercise that keeps me active and mobile for the rest of my life.
(3) Maximize Survivability: When things go wrong, I want to be able to survive them and be able to help others survive. Can I run away from danger or swim to shore if I fall overboard off a boat? I train in martial arts for both the physical and mental health aspects as well as to develop the skills to be able to stop violence.
Why do you exercise?
Cheers,
David