Maintaining a consistent fitness routine can be challenging for many, often due to a lack of motivation and difficulties in sustaining long-term commitment. Covering this topic, we’ll discuss exercise motivation, exploring the psychological and physiological factors that influence our drive to stay active. By understanding the science behind what makes us tick when it comes to fitness, we can unlock strategies to make exercise a lasting and enjoyable part of our lives.Even before becoming a nurse, I’ve been obsessed with being fit. I subscribed to workout coaching and watched workout, Zumba, and yoga videos. After years of going to the gym, meditation, diet, supplements, and simple home workouts, here I am wondering; “Why should I consider being fit in the first place? What is considered fit? Why should I be doing it when it makes my muscles sore in the morning? Now that I became busier, should I stop? Is it just the body goals?” and here are the answers I got so far.
Why Should I Consider Being Fit In The First Place?
“Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of obesity-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.”Some may already know these facts, but why? Obesity increases the risk of diabetes either because your body develops resistance to insulin or it’s just hereditary. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. Developing insulin resistance will cause the pancreas to work untimely and will add stress to the organ which may result in organ malfunction or cancer.
Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease due to the complex interactions between excess body weight, metabolic changes, and their impact on cardiovascular health. The number one cause of heart disease development is mainly poor lifestyle like smoking, unhealthy diet, obesity, and alcohol addiction, and other causes like high blood pressure, stress, and genetics.
Being obese may cause certain cancers like breast cancer due to fats producing estrogen, which can fuel the growth of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. It can also increase the chances of developing cancers connected to hormonal and metabolic changes like kidney cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer.
What is Considered Physically Fit?
“Defining when you can say you’re fit can be subjective and varies from person to person based on individual goals, preferences, and overall health”Being able to join games and activities without gasping for air, having perfect proportions, good posture, good mental health, and being free of diseases is my definition of being fit. What’s yours? Let me know through muscle telepathy! Just kidding, don’t tell me, I don’t care.
Why Should I Workout When It Makes My Muscles Sore In The Morning?
“Experiencing muscle soreness after a workout, also known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is a common phenomenon, especially when you’re starting a new exercise routine or increasing the intensity of your workouts.”
While muscle soreness can be uncomfortable, there are several reasons why you should continue working out despite the soreness:
- Muscle soreness is a sign that your muscles have been challenged and are adapting to the new demands you’ve placed on them. Over time, this adaptation leads to increased strength, endurance, and overall fitness
- Working out despite muscle soreness can improve blood flow to the affected muscles, promoting healing and reducing soreness faster.
- Consistency is crucial for achieving your fitness goals. If you skip workouts every time you experience soreness, it might impede your progress.
- Gradually increasing the intensity and volume of your workouts can help your body adapt more smoothly, reducing the severity of DOMS over time.
- Pushing through discomfort fosters mental resilience and discipline, which are important qualities in achieving long-term fitness goals.
Muscle soreness is a normal part of the fitness journey, especially when you’re pushing your body beyond its usual limits. The key is finding a balance between challenging yourself and allowing your body the time it needs to recover. If the soreness becomes persistent or severe, or if you’re concerned about your workout routine, it’s advisable to consult a fitness professional or healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Now That I Became Busier, Should I Stop?
Hectic and tight schedules are part of our daily adult life. We also experience this sometimes as students but not as extreme as now as adults, it’s accompanied by fatigue from working shifts, stress from that one officemate who thinks he/she is the main character and other personal activities. While becoming busier can pose challenges to maintaining a consistent workout routine, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stop working out altogether. Exercise remains important for both your physical and mental well-being. Instead of completely stopping, consider adapting to these changes. Here are some strategies to consider:
- Evaluate your daily schedule and identify pockets of time that you can dedicate to exercise. Treat your workouts as appointments that are just as important as any other commitment.
- If you’re pressed for time, consider shorter, more intense workouts. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can provide effective results in a shorter duration.
- Choose exercises that target multiple muscle groups simultaneously. Compound movements like squats, lunges, and push-ups can give you a full-body workout in less time.
- Consider working out in the morning (preferably jogging) before your day gets busier. It can set a positive tone for the day and ensure that exercise doesn’t get pushed aside by other commitments. Additionally, you might want to complement your morning routine with wellness supplements like “MCT Wellness.” To learn more about its potential advantages, you can read an “MCT Wellness Review.” This combination of morning exercise and wellness support can help you kickstart your day on the right foot and maintain your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
- If getting to the gym is a challenge, explore home workout options. There are numerous online resources, apps, videos, and fat loss codesthat offer guided workouts you can do at home.
- If weekdays are hectic, consider dedicating longer sessions to exercise on weekends when you might have more time available.
- Look for opportunities to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator (if you’re not running late), and walk or bike for short errands.
Even short bouts of exercise can provide health benefits and help relieve stress.
Conclusion
Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine offers many benefits that extend beyond just physical health, positively impacting various aspects of your life. Maintaining a healthy body sure is hard, but believe me, it’s worth it. I also find it difficult at first, I can’t adapt naturally since it’s not the same lifestyle as a student Disney Princess I’m used to. Sustaining a workout routine requires a combination of understanding your fitness goals, pushing through challenges, adapting to changing circumstances, and making exercise a non-negotiable part of your lifestyle. By prioritizing fitness, you can enjoy the numerous benefits it offers, ranging from improved physical health to enhanced mental clarity and overall well-being.