There’s benefits to fitness?  I never knew!  Ok, this is going to be the Captain Obvious of my articles, but nonetheless, it bears repeating.  And maybe you’ll find a few different viewpoints you didn’t think of.  The fact of the matter is, everyone should be actively pursuing a life of better health and fitness.  I’m blown away by the amount of people that actually argue with me on this one.  Yes, I’ve had clients and/or random people, ague against fitness.  I know, you had an uncle that smoked 10 packs a day, ate bacon for breakfast and lunch, and then drank his diner well into his 90s.  Good for him, he’s a freak of nature!  I’m guessing every breath he took was followed by a wheeze or a cough or a trip to the store to buy medication for that week’s illness.  Besides, it doesn’t mean you’ll be the same way!  So here it is, the benefits of fitness!

Quality of life.  Notice I didn’t say longevity, but instead, quality of life.  There is really no evidence that fitness and eating right extends your life.  Though it’s pretty well assumed it does.  But that doesn’t matter, who cares how long it is if the quality is terrible!  Eating well, exercising your heart, lungs and muscles will work miracles for your happiness and overall quality of life.

Physical ease.  Ever been exhausted from doing some yard work or gardening and had to stay in and recoup the rest of the day?  Or struggle to carry your luggage around the airport and having to constantly stop?  Wouldn’t it be nice to do all of that stuff with ease and not waste away the day recuperating?  This paragraph may sound like a bad infomercial, but strength training does wonders for this.  I can’t tell you how many clients I’ve had over the years tell me how they suddenly can spend hours doing yard work and then turn around and go out for the evening, when only a couple months ago they had to stop after 30 minutes and rest, and were then sore the rest of the week.  Most don’t think of this aspect, but it’s a huge one.  Resistance training isn’t just for bulking up and/or looking good!

Pain free.  Many injuries, aches and pains come from poor nutrition (systemic inflammation), muscular weekness, and a weak cardiovascular system.  Proper resistance training can strengthen the body in many ways, such as strengthening joints and the skeletal system as well as helping prevent injury.  Proper diet can act as an inflammatory, reducing chronic and acute pain in the body.

More energy.  Need a couple cups of coffee in the morning to get going?  And a maybe a few more in the afternoon, or an energy drink?  You shouldn’t.  If you eat right and exercise, you’ll have all the energy you need to get through your day without any crashes or energy dips!  Stop wasting your time and money on energy drinks that jack you up, leave you crashed, and are generally horribly unhealthy for you.

Saves money.  The amount of money people spend on fixing or covering up bad health is astronomical!  Nearly half of all Americans use prescription drugs on a regular basis!  A life of fitness and healthy eating keeps you off of all of the expensive medications and trips to the doctor.  Depending on your life style, you may find yourself spending less money at the grocery store too!

Fewer illnesses.  As it relates to the previous two benefits, healthy living boosts your immune system by overcoming many illnesses caused by a weak cardiovascular system.  Not only will you attract few illnesses, but the few that you get, won’t last as long and your recovery time will be boosted.  This too relates to less time away from work, a.k.a. making money!

Job opportunities.  Speaking of jobs, ever think your health could cost you a job?  It can.  There are many levels to this one.  For starters, there are more job opportunities for those who are in shape and healthy.  When was the last time you saw a job that required you to be in poor health and be excessively over weight?  Maybe to get paid to use a trial weight loss pill?  Another way your health can affect your job is in relation to what is mentioned in the previous benefit, fewer illnesses.  Having to call in sick a lot doesn’t go over well with your boss.  Loss in productivity tends to lead to a loss of a job!  And lastly, while it may not be fair, the fact of the matter is, those who dedicate a life to fitness tend to have more opportunities just because of their looks.  It’s not right, and it’s not fair, but its life and it is what it is.

While this list could go on and on, I think most understand that life is hard enough, there’s no need to make it harder through poor decisions with our health.  It’s not easy, but it’s really not that hard either to live a life of fitness.  The toughest part is consistency, set a schedule and stick to it no matter what, and you’ll begin to reap the benefits of fitness!