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Original poster

Reason(s) why you started or want to start exercising?

80 replies

SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc · 03/08/2023 09:12

There seem to be a lot of threads on finding motivation to exercise.

For those who do exercise or those who want to exercise, what's the primary reason you either currently exercise or want to exercise regularly? Do you think regular exercise is more of a chore or a gift?

OP posts:
LemonyZest · 03/08/2023 18:21

@SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc badminton and tennis. I enjoy the social side of a team sport and playing matches, the exercise is a bonus.

BogRollBOGOF · 03/08/2023 18:15

I feel awful if I don't exercise. I hate puffing around and everything feels hard if you don't exercise. I also stop sleeping and get twitchy if I don't burn enough energy.
I had SPD in my pregancies which severely compromised my mobility so my starting point after birth was from walking 100m and going to bed to recover. Once I could walk without limping, I started C25k. A year later I did a HM. Years later, I finally did a marathon.

Long term, exercise is great for health. Looking after your heart and cardiovascular system. Keeping your muscle mass and bone density longer as you age. Shorter term, I'm motivated by goals such as training for races, times and progression in lifting weights. I want to keep moving like a young person.

I enjoy it, and I'd rather ache because I've achieved something and had fun along the way than ache because I hadn't moved.

Original poster
SportsAndExerciseMedicineDoc · 03/08/2023 11:09

Thanks @LemonyZest Do you mind sharing the sport you love? Why do you love it?

Thanks @SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun your probably right. It's bit of a hot topic in Sports Science at the moment: exercise and weight loss. The evidence seems to be suggesting that in the long-term (> 10 months) it's not that useful for weight loss, but good for maintaining weight loss.

OP posts:
SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 03/08/2023 09:26

Physical and Mental health. I would do it fit weight loss but not convinced it works.

I have also found running very sociable and enjoy the stats eg pace etc. how far, how fast.

LemonyZest · 03/08/2023 09:17

Interesting thread Op.
I exercise regularly for health, so much research seems to point to exercise being the key to a healthy older age (with a good dose of luck)
I’ve found a sport I love but the running/ walking/ swimming are more about habit and the dose of endorphins I get afterwards.