There are already a billion websites out there that talk about the benefits of working out. And as soon as I hit publish, there will be a billion and one. The reason for so many sites is simple: exercise has a billion benefits.
Okay, maybe not a billion. But a lot. And if you’re not working out at least a few times a week, you’re missing out on all kinds of benefits.
I could easily come up with 100 benefits of working out. But I’m not gonna do that. Instead, I’m gonna give you the top 10 reasons why I work out – and why you should to!
10 Reasons Why I Work Out
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If you think you’re too old or too sick to start working out, I’ve got news for you: you’re (probably) wrong. See, that’s what I thought about myself years ago. I thought the rare, chronic, painful autoimmune/autoinflammatory disease I’d been diagnosed with would forever prevent me from getting in shape. And if not the illness, then certainly my age.
I was 27 when I got my first gym membership. At the time, I thought I was already too old. I couldn’t have been more wrong! It’s never too late to start. Whether you’re in your 20s or even your 50s, it’s not too late.
Getting in shape has changed my life for the better in so many different ways. Below are ten of them, but I could easily double or even triple this list. The benefits are numerous and the costs few. So let’s get jump right into this list of reasons why I work out.
1. Increased Confidence
I can’t even begin to tell you how much my confidence has gone up since I started working out. It’s incredible. When I first stepped foot in the gym, I felt awkward and intimidated. But that changed within a few short months.
I slowly started to gain confidence in myself as I built muscle and gained strength. I was more assertive at work, better at flirting with girls (much better, actually), and generally more confident in my daily life.
I attribute some of this to an increase in testosterone. It’s been well documented that working out boosts testosterone levels in men. It also gives women a slight increase in testosterone (enough to help reduce body fat, but not enough to cause any negative effects). Generally, more testosterone, more confidence.
And I have way more confidence in my appearance now. I’ve always been kinda skinny-fat. Do you know what skinny-fat is? Skinny arms, legs, and chest, with a big ol’ belly (think Dale Gribble, from King of the Hill). It’s not a good look.
Working out has helped me to transform my body. I never used to wear shorts in the summer because I didn’t want anyone to see my chicken legs. I would wear baggy clothes to try to make myself look bigger. Now I wear whatever I want, whenever I want. And I feel good doing it!
At the beach I used to always wear a shirt. I was that guy. Now I can’t wait to take of my shirt at the beach. When I’m shirtless, people take notice. Guys and girls. I get compliments from guys and phone numbers from girls. Of course, this boosts my confidence ever further.
Now, I’m not trying to brag. I just want you to see how drastically my confidence has improved since I started working out. If you lack confidence in yourself or your appearance, start working out. And don’t stop. I’ll be honest. The first couple months in the gym are going to be hard. But after just a couple of months you’ll start to notice your body changing, and you’re confidence will start to rise.
2. Better Mood
Throughout my teens and early 20’s, I had a lot of problems with my health. I was on a bunch of different meds that made me to feel like crap all the time. Naturally, this caused me to fall into a deep depression that lasted for the better part of my 20’s.
I was 27 when I got my first gym membership. In spite of being tired and depressed all the time, I forced myself to work out 3 times a week. Slowly, over time, my mood started to improve. I found myself having more energy and started to see things in a more positive light. For the first time in a long time, I was optimistic about my future.
Working out has had a lasting effect on the way I feel. But it also has acute effects on my mood, too. I always leave the gym in a better mood than when I got there. Even if I’m tired and unmotivated before I go to the gym, by the time I finish my workout, I feel great. The key is to make like Nike and just do it. Just get to the gym and once you get your blood pumping, you’ll feel great.
3. More Energy
Before I started working out I was tired all the time. Even after 10 hours of sleep, I would still have a hard time dragging myself out of bed. Doing simple things like washing dishes and doing laundry were hard for me.
Once I started working out, my energy level slowly started to increase. Day-to-day tasks that I had a hard time doing were now done with ease. And this effect was noticeable almost immediately. I noticed an increase in energy within a few weeks of my first workout.
This has been consistent as long as I’ve been working out. Now if I miss a workout or two, I start to feel tired and sluggish again. The gym is like my prescription for energy. If I stop taking my medicine, I stop having energy. Knowing this helps to keep me motivated. Even if I don’t feel like working out some days, I know that once I do, I’ll feel better and have more energy.
You don’t have to work out every day to get experience this. In fact, you don’t have to work out everyday to experience most of the benefits on this list. It only takes 3 or 4 workouts a week. And they don’t have to be long. 45 to 60 minutes is all it takes.
4. Increased Strength and Endurance
When I first started going to the gym in 2007, I was in terrible shape. I could only walk on the treadmill for about 10 minutes before having to stop. I could only jog for 30 seconds. On the flat bench I could only put up 95 pounds 7 or 8 times. My squats were about the same.
If you don’t know what these numbers mean, don’t worry about it. All you need to know is that they aren’t good. Not for a 27 year old male. I was very week for my age and had very little endurance.
By pushing myself a little bit further every time I went to the gym, over time, these numbers started to increase. I got my bench press up to 135 lbs. Then 185. Then 225. Then 250. After hitting the weights, I would spend some time on the treadmill or the elliptical machine. By increasing the duration and intensity a little bit every time, I was able to build up my endurance. In 2007 I could only jog for 30 seconds. Now I can run for over an hour.
It still amazes me when I look back at where I started and how far I’ve come. Now I can’t wait to see where I go from here. I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been, and continue to push myself further.
You’ll be amazed at how fast you progress in the gym. Especially in the first 6 month to a year. Even if you’re as out of shape as I was when I first started (and I doubt you are. I was really weak), you’ll be able gain strength and endurance in no time.
5. Great Learning Experience
You’d be amazed at how much you can learn from working out. When you think about the average gym rat, you may picture the stereotypical meat head with muscles coming out of his muscles. But that meat head looks that way because he knows a whole lot about nutrition and fitness (or at least his trainer does).
You don’t have to know anything about fitness and nutrition when you first start. I certainly didn’t. But over time you pick up information here and there. And before long you have an in-depth knowledge about a number of topics.
When I started working out, I knew very little about nutrition, dieting, building muscle, burning fat, proper exercise form, supplements, or anything else related to fitness. Now I’m an expert on all of those subjects.
I’ll admit, I’ve probably explored those subjects more intensely than the average gym goer. When I’m interested in something, I want to know everything there is to know about it. And I’m very interested in fitness and nutrition. I’ve spent countless hours studying diet and exercise.
But even if you don’t want to waste your time combing through nutrition journals like me, you’ll still learn a ton by simply working out and learning the basics of healthy eating.
Most importantly, you’ll learn a lot about yourself. You’ll learn what you’re capable of, and what your limits are. You’ll learn that your mind is stronger than your body could ever be. And you’ll learn to love the feeling you get after a great workout.
6. Delayed Gratification
We live in a society where we want everything right now. Instant gratification. That’s why diet pills and workout programs that promise fast results sell like crazy, even though they don’t work. We want it all, and we want it now!
The truth is, getting in shape takes time. Anyone that tells you otherwise is full of shit. Plain and simple.
But I didn’t always know this. Like most people, I had seen so many Abs In 14 Days infomercials that I thought I’d be ripped in no time. When I didn’t look like a fitness model after my first month in the gym, I was disappointed. But I didn’t give up. I kept going. And slowly over time I started to see results.
What I’ve learned from years of working out is to appreciate delayed gratification. This is when you put off an immediate reward for a bigger reward later. One example of this is simply going to the gym. Sure, I’d rather be sitting at home watching TV (immediate reward). But by going to the gym instead, I’m working toward my dream physique (delayed reward).
Another example is when I’m dieting. I may really want to eat these cookies (immediate reward). But instead, I have a low-carb protein bar because I want my abs to really pop at the beach this summer (delayed reward).
Working out and eating healthy may not give you the same instant gratification that eating Pringles and watching Tiger King will. But it pays off later on in a major way. Learning to harness the power of delayed gratification will also help you at work, in school, and at home.
7. More Attention From Women
I’m not going to lie to you. Women are one of the main reasons that I work out. Well, women were one of the main reasons that I started working out. Now I do it because I love it. But one of the main things that inspired me to start working out was that I wanted to become more attractive to women.
And apparently it worked. I get more attention from women now than I ever have before.
But I’m not trying to brag. Just telling it like it is. Most women find men that are physically fit to be more attractive than their unfit counterparts. It’s been studied for years and it’s well documented. And it makes sense. From an evolutionary standpoint, fit men are more likely to be better protectors and providers.
Some people say that you should work out only to better yourself and never to try to impress anyone else. I’m not one of those people. I say you should find motivation wherever you can. It can be hard to find the motivation to start working out. If attracting the opposite sex (or same sex: whatever you’re into) is what motivates you, then go with it. Whatever works.
And this doesn’t just apply to guys. If anything, it applies even more to girls. Women are judged by their bodies much more than men. I’m not saying it’s right. But it’s undeniable. If you’re a woman and you want more attention from men (or women: again, whichever), getting in shape will only help you.
There’s no question that women pay more attention to me now than when I was skinny-fat. No question at all. Whether you’re a guy or girl, working out will make you more attractive to the opposite sex (or the same sex, if that’s what you’re going for).
8. Better Sex Life
This one goes hand-in-hand with number 7. Not only do I get more attention from women, but I’m able to have a much better time with them in the bedroom.
Sex is awesome, no matter what. But being in shape makes an already great thing even better. Increased strength and endurance means you can try new positions and last much longer without even breaking a sweat.
And this doesn’t just benefit you. It benefits your partner as well. Before I started working out I’d be completely out of breath after a short bedroom romp. I certainly didn’t have the strength to be pulling off any kinds of interesting positions.
Now that I’m in shape, what happens in the bedroom is limited only by my imagination – not by my body. I’m able to leave my partner satisfied and wanting more, instead of disappointed and heading for the door.
Working out will greatly improve your sex life, whether you’re a man (think endurance) or a woman (think flexibility). Being fit opens up a whole new world of things to try in the bedroom.
9. The Pump
Arnold Schwarzenegger famously once said that getting a good pump is better than having sex. I could quote him, but it wouldn’t do him justice. You can hear it yourself here.
So, what is this pump that I’m talking about? When you work out, blood fills the muscles that you are working. This causes them to look and feel much bigger. This is known as having a pump.
You may be thinking, So what? What’s so great about getting a pump? You really have to experience it for yourself. The feeling you get after an intense upper body workout is awesome. You look in the mirror and all of your muscles look bigger. Your pecs pop. Your biceps bulge. For a short time, you feel invincible.
Now, I wouldn’t go quite as far as Arnold and say that a pump is better than sex. But it is pretty awesome. And it’s addictive. It’ll help keep you motivated to continue going to the gym. This is the instant gratification that you get after an intense workout.
10. Improvement in Other Areas of Life
Working out has improved almost every area of my life. There’s the obvious stuff like looking better at the beach and getting stronger. But being fit has helped me be a better father, a better friend, and a better person.
If I’d never started going to the gym, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with my fourteen-year-old son. We play sports outside, go swimming, jogging, and like to take long walks. None of that would be possible if I wasn’t in shape.
In the past, whenever a friend would ask me to help them move, I would make up an excuse for why I couldn’t help. The truth was that I felt too weak to be carrying around heavy boxes all day, and I didn’t want to appear weak to them. Now, I’m the first one to offer my help to friends who ask for it. .
And one of the most rewarding aspects of being fit is that I get to help other people get in shape. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not pushy or preachy. If you don’t want to work out that’s fine and I respect that. But whenever someone tells me that they want to get fit but don’t know where to start, I’m more than happy to help.
Conclusion
Working out has changed my life. For all the reasons I mentioned and so many more. It’s transformed my life, and it could do the same thing for you.
I’ve never experienced anything with such a high return on investment. You go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week for 45-60 minutes each time. That’s it. And it will change your entire life.
If you don’t work out, you should strongly consider it. Of the hundreds of people I know that work out, every single one of them is happy that they started. They only regret not starting sooner.
So for those of you that do work out, why do you do it? How has it changed your life?
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