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The Desire that Stokes Your Fire

Posted May 21, 2008 at 01:30 PM by Donnell Peavy

Section: His Fitness, Strength Training, His Health, Mental Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health

motivated athlete Summertime is upon us, and if you are like a majority of the population, you are making sure that you hit the gym regularly so that you can look good with no shirt on, whether you’re on the beach or just mowing the lawn. Vanity is one of the primary motivations people have for working out. There are, however, many different reasons, several of which were recently posted on Mercola.com:

Testosterone: For men especially, when you lift weights and gradually increase the level of resistance, your muscles produce testosterone, giving you the energy, stamina, and aggressiveness you need to take on the world.
Clarity and Concentration: An active body has been linked to an active mind. The more consistently you exercise, the less prone you’ll be to grogginess and lapses in concentration.
Reflection: Exercise is a time to let your mind unwind while your body does the work.
Enjoyment: There are many enjoyable ways to exercise, such as going for a run or bike ride along a beautiful route.
Cleansing: Sweating regularly through exercises removes toxins.
Better Sleep: Studies have shown that exercise improves sleep.
Longer Life: People who exercise regularly live longer and stay healthier into old age.
Stress Relief: Exercise has also been shown to reduce stress.
Superior Strength and Endurance: By exercising regularly, you’ll be better able to live and act, and in the event of an emergency, seize the moment.
Self Confidence: The sum of all these benefits is self confidence. Self confidence drives success, so its value can’t be underestimated.

The list fails to mention my personal motivator though – competition. I am competitive by nature, and have competed in various sporting events over the years. When I am not working out, I know that there is someone out there in my chosen event who is training to be better than I am – something which I cannot allow. The desire to always be one up on my opponents keeps me in the gym consistently and ensures that I work out intensely.

Whatever your motivation, be it better sleep or competition, use it. By retaining your motivation, you are giving yourself a reason to maintain your healthy lifestyle.

Research sources and for more information: [mercola.com]