Why do people exercise? Why do some others not care? Is there a genetic predisposition that enables one person to drag themselves through a 100-mile race? What are the neurological or biological or physiological differences between me and Michael Phelps and the contestants on the Biggest Loser – before they get on the show? I am fascinated by these questions because I don't think the answers are simple. Obviously, if I could figure out what triggers people to exercise, I could bottle that, and sit on a fortune twice the size of Oprah's. Is it a habit from learned behavior? I think that athletes have children who care about exercise and couch potato couples breed sedentary teens. But is that learned behavior because they are in a habit and a routine or were those people wired differently from birth? It's hard to separate the two. Isn't that the age-old nature versus nurture debate?
I don't think vanity is a tidy answer either. Do some of us exercise more when we see a bad picture of ourselves and then continue to do so when we see a great picture of ourselves, in the hope of keeping ourselves in shape? Yeah, I suppose I do that. But on the other hand, plenty of people see bad pictures of themselves and then make fun of their shape or size, while eating a burger from a fast food wrapper.
At times I have been rather glib and told people I exercise because it's cheaper than seeing a psychologist. What am I really saying when I make that statement? Do I think if I manufacture, store, and produce enough endorphins that I can keep depressive episodes at bay? Does that mean I constantly have a tug-of-war battling in my brain for my moods? That's almost kind of creepy. It's like saying mania or depression or rage is just a short cliff jump away and if I miss too many sessions at the gym, I'll turn into some monster or some weepy, self-pitying, helpless weakling. Although, honestly, there are times when those undercurrents seem strong and I want to avoid falling into them.
Are people who exercise more often generally happier? Or are they just more anal? I've often talked about my mom's mantra that says when you eat right, sleep well, and exercise, most things tend to fall into place. I grew up on that wisdom, but so did my sisters and brother and I don't think any of them are as compulsive as I am about working out. And I wouldn't say that I generally have a sweeter disposition than any of them.
I don't have any solid answers right now. I choose to work out for a variety of reasons. A part of it is vanity and how I want to feel when I look in the mirror. A part of it is competition and wanting to push myself to achieve something I didn't think I could, whether that is running 12 miles or doing bicep curls with 15lb weights or finally feeling at ease in triangle pose. A huge part is control. I realize that I don't have control over a lot of things in my life but working out is one arena where I have that. It's having to be accountable to myself when I look at my calendar.
For now, this post is unfinished as I ruminate on the topic further.
1 comment:
Hmmm... I ask myself that allot too, and other people ask me the one question I have a hard time answering; Why? For me I don't think its healthy - its compulsive, and a drive to acomplish something that I havent before. I'm not competitive, so that's not it, although sometimes a run in the woods is beacuse its my favorite place in the world to be. I think I'd "exercise" even if it made me less heatlthy, and in fact some people have told me that my form of exercising might do just that! Good question - I think the answer is totally indivicxdule, and I can't even figure out mine!
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