Why Should You Exercise? Reasons & Answers

'You are already in shape and slim. Why do you need to exercise?'

In the last six months, I've had two of my clients tell me that people have asked them this question.

I have also heard the other side of the story, though I thought it was pretty stupid - 'You go to a gym and you are gaining weight?' This was when I was on a weight gain program back in college and some overweight arrogantly guy asked me that.

So, I decided to write a post on why people need to exercise? At the outset let me make this clear that exercise refers to training your body for a specific result whether in the gym or not. There doesn't necessarily have to be a gym. 

So here are some reasons why people workout:

1) Get rid of body fat: This is usually the most obvious reason. In their terms its called 'losing weight.' However as I have explained in previous posts,  it is not how much weight you lose but what kind of weight you lose. Your bones, water content, muscle content and fat all play a huge role in contributing to your overall body weight. Reducing unhealthy fat content is the issue that we are dealing with here.

2) To build muscle: This also is very obvious. However, it is not only restricted to bodybuilders or a few college guys who want to 'pump it up.' Building muscle has advantages of keeping fat off, healthy weight gain, getting stronger, etc.

3) Gain weight: Some people really struggle with putting on weight and they need to increase their weight. The answer doesn't lie only in just eat more. That will result in bloating heavily and accumulation of fat even though it might not be visible.  A proper training program is necessary.

4) Rehabilitation: Some people with previous injuries, recovering from an illness or lifestyle related disease look to exercise as a rehabilitation process.

5) Build Strength: Once again a common misconception is just because a person lifts weights they are strong. This might not be the case. A person can be really small but have a lot of strength. A famous example is Bruce Lee. Lee might not have stood on an Olympia stage but his one inch punch demonstration is enough to tell you that he was strong enough to put away any of those Mr O. winners. Also there are different areas of strength that varies from individual to individual.

6) Conditioning: Conditioning is about developing the body's ability to endure and carry on working. This is especially seen in athletes. However, conditioning is very important to even a normal person. How many times have you heard this, ' I get breathless every time I walk up a staircase?' Conditioning is mostly training the aerobic systems, the heart and lung capacity and muscles for endurance.

7) Fitness: Fitness is definitely a reason people would exercise. Some people just look to stay healthy, free of aches and pains, and have enough strength and energy to handle their life. These are not people looking to win competitions or anything. They just know its good to exercise.

8) Preventive Medicine: Related to the point above but with a different goal in mind. People look to exercise as a medicine and as a preventive medicine. That is they take a proactive approach to warding off lifestyle related diseases. 

9) Look Good: Well this is where you find majority of the younger crowd. People just want to look good and have a good physique or figure as the case may be. The truth is if you are on a good program this will automatically fall into place.   

These are some of the biggest reasons why people workout. So if you were looking for answers to why people train or a reason to exercise....pick one and go ahead!

Courtesy: http://temple-of-fitness.blogspot.in/